Despite travel alerts, foreign visitors to PHL up by 3.7% this year

Despite the travel advisories issued by foreign governments on the Philippines, the number of foreigners who visited or entered the country from January to December 20 this year has increased by 3.7 percent compared to last year’s figure.   According to the Bureau of Immigration, most of the 3,580,647 foreigners who entered the country this year were Koreans, Americans and Japanese nationals. The number is 128,979 higher than the 3,451,668 recorded last year.   For this year, Koreans topped the list with 882,804 arrivals, followed by 707,160 Americans, 373,335 Japanese, 271,703 Chinese, 171,544 Australians, 135,696 Taiwanese, 131,139 Britons, 129,802 Canadians, 94,361 Malaysians, and 89,329 Singaporeans.   Majority of the foreign travelers arrived via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).   Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said he is expecting this year’s figure to increase further as it does not include arrival numbers from Dec. 21 to 31.   David explained that the statistics include all international travelers, including tourists, investors, expatriates, students, and “balikbayans” with foreign passports. A number of countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, had issued travel warnings on the Philippines this year due to threats of kidnapping and terrorist attacks. — KBK, GMA News