MANILA, Philippines – In line with heightened efforts to boost the country?s tourism industry, the government is eyeing to double its tourism receipts to $8 billion in 2016, a tourism official said.
Tourism Promotion Board chief operating officer Domingo Ramon Enerio III, in an interview with The STAR at the Puregold Sari-Sari Store Convention, said for this year alone, tourism receipts ? money spent by foreign visitors in traveling to the country ? is seen to reach $4.95 billion.
For next year, it is expected that tourist spending would further increase to $6.07 billion.
Tourism receipts have been on the rise for the past years. In 2011, it stood at $2.99 billion and grew to $3.82 billion in 2012.
Enerio said the projected increase in tourism receipts is consistent with the government?s goal to bring up the number of tourist arrivals to 10 million in 2016. For 2013, the Department of Tourism is targeting foreign arrivals to hit 5.5 million.
He said they are confident of hitting the 5.5-million mark this year since there are already about 4.3 million tourist arrivals registered so far this year.
?We are very optimistic that we can hit that target. We are doing our best to promote our country as the most attractive tourist destination in Asia,? he added.
DOT data showed that tourist arrivals reached 4.2 million in 2012, up nine percent from 3.9 million in 2011.
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Source: Donnabelle L. Gatdula (2013). Gov?t expects tourism receipts to hit $8B by 2016, philstar.com?http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/05/23/945161/govt-expects-tourism-receipts-hit-8b-2016 published May 23, 2013. Viewed May 23, 2013,