DOT: Philippines looks forward to return of Chinese tourists

The Philippines will welcome the return of Chinese tourists once China’s borders reopen for outbound leisure travel, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Wednesday. 

DOT Secretary Christina Frasco made the remark a day after the Chinese Embassy clarified that the Philippines is not on a blacklist for tourism destinations due to offshore gaming operations.
 
“Currently, China has not yet reopened its borders to outbound leisure travel of its own nationals, cognizant of its present outbound restriction to its citizens; thus, registering only 17,454 visitors to the Philippines in 2020; 6,615 in 2021; and 23,482 in 2022,” said Frasco in a statement. 
 
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, China was the country’s second-largest source of tourists, next to South Korea, the DOT said.

In 2019 alone, 1,743,309 Chinese tourists visited the Philippines.
 
“Needless to say, these numbers reverberate the cordial relationship that exists between the Chinese people and the Philippines, particularly on the aspect of tourism,” Frasco said. 
 
“As the Department of Tourism continues to work on supporting the Marcos administration’s objective of improving the enabling mechanisms for tourism in the country, we look forward with optimism to the resumption of Chinese leisure travel to our Philippine destinations,” she added. 
 
Earlier in the day, Malacañang said the Philippines was looking forward to continuing its tourism ties with China as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. monitors the offshore gaming operations in the country. — VBL, GMA News

DOT: Philippines looks forward to return of Chinese tourists
Source: Filipino Viral News PH