While 8 million is short of 200,000 from the country's target, the last days of December promise to bring the remaining figures. The average arrivals of overseas visitors in December fluctuated around 50,000 travellers a day, so reaching the target does seem real.
The Immigration Bereau also mentioned that tourists who entered the country via sea ports were not counted yet.
The detailed report of visitor arrivals for 2019 is expected to be released early January, but it is already clear that 2019 is a record breaking year for the Philippines tourism industry. In 2018, 7.1 million foreign tourists visited the country and in 2019 the number of overseas travellers has already surpassed the last year's results.
The Department of tourism attributes this result to the success of rehabilitation measures undertaken in some of the most popular tourist destinations, the initiative to develop sustainable tourism and a better connectivity with some of the most remote parts of the country.
Philippines Optimistic to Hit 2019 Target for Foreign Tourists Arrivals
News in Asia
The Philippines welcomed their 8-millionth foreign tourist last week, and the Bureau of Immigration expects that before the end of the year foreign tourist arrivals to the country will hit 8.2 million.