MANILA - What do foreign tourists spend their money on when they visit the Philippines?
According to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), shopping topped the agenda of foreign visitors to the Philippines, spending P35.49 billion on purchases in 2011, up by 14.9 percent from P30.89 billion in 2010.
This was followed by food and beverage serving services at P31.84 billion; accommodation, P30.44 billion; entertainment and recreation, P19.77 billion; and transport services, P4.62 billion.
The total inbound tourism expenditure, which refers to the expenditure of non-resident visitors within the Philippines, amounted to P124.46 billion, higher by 13 percent than the P109.2 billion in 2010.
The Department of Tourism reported that foreign tourist arrivals reached 3.92 million in 2011, up from 3.5 million in 2010. This means a foreign visitor spent an average of P31,750 last year.
The top sources of tourist arrivals were Korea, the US, Japan, China, Taiwan, Australia, Singapore, Canada, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Malaysia and Germany.
Domestic tourist expenditures, which include expenditures of resident visitors on a domestic trip or as part of an international trip, grew by 27.1 percent to P995.7 billion last year from P783.4 billion in 2010.
Domestic tourists spent P447.88 billion on miscellaneous items, followed by accommodation, P156.09 billion; shopping, P150.45 billion; travel agencies and reservation services, P79.05 billion; food and beverages, P65.66 billion; transport and services, P60.47 billion; and entertainment and recreation, P36.12 billion.
The NSCB said the tourism industry contributed 5.9 percent to the economy in 2011 or a direct gross value added of P946.76 billion.
The tourism sector contributed an average of 5.8 percent to the economy during the years 2000-2010.
The industry generated a total of 3.8 million jobs last year, up by 3.5 percent from 3.7 million in 2010.
source: interaksyon.com
