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By William B. Depasupil, Reporter
THE Philippines is fast emerging as one of the
top tourist and investment destinations in the Asia-Pacific
region, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Statistics showed that a total of 274,603
foreigners arrived in the country in January, up by more than 21
percent compared to the 227,345 arrivals for the same period
last year.
Immigration Commissioner Marcelino C. Libanan
said Sunday that the figure represented only the volume of foreign
passengers who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)
and do not include those who entered through other ports like Mactan,
Subic, Davao, Clark, and Laoag.
The BI chief described the figures as “very
encouraging,” saying that it augurs well for the country’s
efforts to bolster its reputation as one of the most favored tourist
destinations in the Asia-Pacific.
He added that a sizeable percentage of the
foreign visitors who arrived were prospective investors and
expatriates who could contribute greatly to the country’s economic
development.
Libanan recalled that last year, more than 5.3
million foreigners arrived at the NAIA, up by 8 percent over those
who came in 2006.
“There is no doubt that the Philippines is
well on its way to emerging as one of the most favored tourist and
investment destinations in the Asia-Pacific,” he declared.
Libanan claimed that the policy reforms that he
initiated in the BI encouraged more foreign tourists to come here.
Among these reforms, he said, was his decision
to extend from one to two years the maximum allowable stay of
foreign tourists.
Koreans topped the list of those who arrived in
January, followed by Americans, Japanese, and Chinese.
Of the 274,603 arrivals, more than 200,000 were
tourists, including more than 58,000 Balikbayans. The rest were
permanent residents, expatriates and holders of investor and retiree
visas.
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