Tourist arrivals in the country for the month of February hit a four-year high, according to data released by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

In a statement, the DOT said a total of 579,178 visitors were recorded in February 2017, breaking the month’s previous records of tourist arrivals. This was 5.36 percent higher than the same period last year and 27.81 percent higher in the past four years.

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The DOT is targeting seven million arrivals for 2017. The combined arrivals for January and February represent 17.30 percent of the annual target.

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South Korean visitors topped the inbound traffic with 150,598 arrivals (26 percent), followed by tourists from the United States with 137,598 (23.76 percent), China with 78,251 (13.51 percent), Japan with 53,957 (9.32 percent), and Taiwan with 20,472 (3.53 percent).

“We have maintained and even increased figures from South Korea and we expect to see ​further growth, as​ Korean tourists perceive our country as a distinctive global destination built on unique experiences and rich natural beauty,” Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said in a statement.

Aside from the top five markets, the DOT also noted a significant increase in the arrival of visitors from Australia which rose by 9.32 percent (20,157), Canada by 21.39​ percent (19,016), and United Kingdom by 15.65​ percent (15,226).

Germany, which is among the top 12 markets, posted the highest per capital expenditure in February. On average, a German visitor spent P60,260.45 during his stay in the Philippines. This was followed by the United Kingdom with per capita spending of P47,533.15,​ Canada with P43,761.​75, ​Korea with P38,714.46, and France with P37,354.40.

The Tourism chief also boasted the arrival of 8,716 cruise passengers in various ports of the country. Manila still emerged as the country’s ​top cruise destination with the arrival of 2,785 passengers, followed by Boracay with 1,145, Bohol with 692 passengers, and Pangasinan with 640 passengers.

“These numbers show​ that cruise tourism is one of the fastest growing segments in the Philippine tourism. This certainly ​gives us a positive outlook for the country’s cruise tourism market for this year,” Teo added. CBB

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