Marcos: Tourism improved lives of millions of Filipinos

President Marcos said that the lives of millions of Filipinos changed for the better because of tourism’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), which marked a record-high growth in 2023.

Marcos said this as he led the opening ceremony of the 36th Joint Meeting of the United Nations (UN) Tourism Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the UN Tourism Commission for South Asia in Cebu City on Friday, June 28.

In his speech, the President enumerated figures that showed how tourism is vital to the economy and society.

“Going beyond monetary values and numbers, these figures also mean millions of lives are being changed for the better,” he said.

“And that’s why I hope that our efforts here will lead to even better practices [and] more tourism arrivals not just for our country but for the entire world,” he added.

According to Marcos, tourism contributed P2.09 trillion to the country’s economy in 2023, which amounted to $35 billion.

“This is an impressive increase of 48 percent compared to our previous year’s numbers,” he said.

“It marks the highest record of growth in gross value added in tourism since the year 2000,” he added.

The amount also represents 8.6 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Through the Department of Tourism (DOT), President Marcos said the government surpassed its 2023 tourist arrival target of 4.8 million after recording 5.45 million international tourists.

International tourist arrival in the Philippines reached 2.9 million from January to March 2024 alone, accounting for 38.1 percent of the 7.7 million tourist arrival target this year.

“These highlight the robust recovery and continued appeal of our country as a top travel destination,” Marcos said. — Argyll Cyrus Geducos