MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Saturday reiterated its commitment to sustain the tourism gains the Philippines achieved in 2022, specifically by boosting promotions for domestic travel.
The statement comes following the latest data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showing that the share of the Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA) to Philippine economy, as measured by gross domestic product, was estimated at 6.2 percent in 2022.
The TDGVA last year grew by 36.9 percent to PHP 1.38 trillion from PHP1 trillion in 2021, according to PSA.
The internal tourism expenditure, which combines inbound and domestic tourism expenditure, also saw a significant rise last year, tallying PHP1.87 trillion in 2022, up by 131.2 percent from the PHP 810 billion in 2021.
“We ascribe last year’s gains, foremost, to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., whose clear vision and confidence in the tourism industry sparked a strong sense of inspiration and urgency for the DOT, and all players that make up the tourism value chain -- our national and local government partners, and tourism stakeholders in the private sector -- to work together,” Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said in a statement on Saturday.
“As we continue to ride the wave of travel resurgence coming out of the pandemic, we in the DOT acknowledge the need for initiatives that will make the Philippine tourism industry sustainable, resilient, and top-of-mind for the next several years.”
Inbound tourism expenditure posted the highest growth out of the different forms of tourism expenditure, registering PHP368.67 billion last year, at least 1,234.2 percent higher compared with PHP27.63 billion in 2021.
Inbound tourism expenditure, which refers to the expenditure of non-resident visitors or those foreign and Filipinos permanently residing abroad, contributed 5.9 percent to the country’s total exports in 2022, compared to 0.6 percent share in 2021.
Domestic tourism expenditure in 2022, on the other hand, reached PHP1.50 trillion, at least 92.3 percent higher from the PHP 782.57 billion in 2021.
“One of our objectives to be pursued under the Marcos administration is the maximization of domestic tourism as it has proven a very strong and reliable contributor to the economy,” Frasco said.
“Through the Philippine Experience Program, our regional expos, fairs, and the like, we intend to generate tourism opportunities by giving our travel and tourism stakeholders opportunities to immerse themselves in other destinations and regions and to come up with tour packages that they can dovetail with their offerings.”
Among the DOT’s initiatives aimed at domestic tourism promotion are the North Luzon Travel Fair in 2022, Mindanao Travel Expo earlier this year, and the Central Philippines Travel Fair Expo which opened on Friday in Iloilo City.
According to the PSA, employment in tourism-identified industries was estimated at 5.35 million in 2022, higher by 9.3 percent than the 4.9 million in 2021.
Tourism jobs accounted for 11.4 percent of the country’s total employment, up by 11.1 percent in 2021. (PNA)
