Most of the tourists coming in February were Americans, Canadians, British, Koreans, Australians, Germans and even Vietnamese.
The Philippines officially reopened to welcome visitors from February 10, and by the end of the month, there were more than 47,000 tourists. The Ministry of Tourism on March 3 said that 45% of them are Filipinos living abroad, the rest are international visitors. The majority of international visitors come from the US, Canada, UK, Korea, Australia, Germany and Vietnam. The number of visitors is expected to increase in the summer.
Visitors who have had two full doses of the Covid-19 vaccine and have a negative test certificate are allowed to enter without isolation. The photo above was taken on Boracay island at the end of 2021. Photo: Reuters
Minister Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said this was a surprise, because usually guests will come during the summer vacation, rather than February. Such a large number of visitors proves that the Philippines is an attractive destination.
The head of the tourism industry said that it is much easier for tourists to enter the country now than in the past. "We are proud to say that the entry requirements are very simple. Travelers with two vaccinations do not need to be quarantined and are allowed to travel to all tourist destinations in the country. They just need to comply with the requirements from the local authorities. ".
The tourism industry brought 5.7 million jobs to people in 2019. At least 1.1 million people lost their jobs when the pandemic hit. After the government gradually eased epidemic prevention restrictions and the country's opening policy, hotels gradually re-hired staff. Many places were full. This is said to be one of the signs of a good recovery in the tourism industry.
