Oriental Mindoro’s tourism sector demonstrated strong performance in September 2024, generating P253.66 million in tourism receipts despite seasonal rains, according to provincial tourism data released yesterday.

The province welcomed 20,745 visitors during the month, with domestic tourists accounting for 75% (15,625) of arrivals and international visitors making up the remaining 25% (5,120).

Both domestic and foreign tourists showed similar daily spending patterns, averaging P3,500 per day.

Notable differences emerged in length of stay, with international visitors typically extending their visits to five days compared to three days for domestic travelers.

This longer duration for foreign guests contributed enormously to the tourism revenue, with international visitors generating P89.6 million in receipts despite their smaller numbers.

Domestic tourism remained the backbone of the sector, contributing P164.06 million to the total receipts.

Local tourists, while staying for shorter periods, arrived in larger numbers, helping to maintain steady tourism activity throughout the month.

Provincial tourism officials attribute the strong performance to Oriental Mindoro’s diverse attractions, including its waterfalls and natural landscapes, as well as improved tourism infrastructure and service quality.

The province has positioned itself as a leading destination in the Philippines’ tourism market, offering experiences that appeal to both domestic and international travelers.

Oriental Mindoro’s tourism sector continues to be a vital economic driver for the province, supporting local businesses and employment while showcasing the island’s natural and cultural heritage.

PH ARRIVALS
The country has experienced a surge in tourism, with the Department of Tourism (DOT) reporting over 3.17 million inbound tourist arrivals in the first half of 2024.

This figure, recorded as of July 10, includes 2,937,293 foreign tourists and 236,401 overseas Filipinos.

The total represents a healthy recovery in the tourism sector, reflecting a 32.81% increase in visitor receipts, which reached approximately P282.17 billion compared to P212.47 billion during the same period in 2023.

South Korea remains the leading source of foreign visitors, accounting for 25.99% of arrivals with 824,798 tourists.

The United States follows with 522,667 visitors (16.47%), while China ranks third with 199,939 (6.30%).

Other notable markets include Japan and Australia, contributing 188,805 (5.95%) and 137,391 (4.33%) visitors respectively.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco has expressed optimism about the continued growth of the sector, citing ongoing government efforts to enhance tourism infrastructure and improve visitor experiences.

The DOT has set a target of 7.7 million foreign tourist arrivals for the year 2024, hoping to capitalize on this upward trend.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) projects that the tourism sector’s contribution to the national economy could reach P5.4 trillion in 2024, marking a year-on-year growth of around 25%.

The resurgence is expected to create over 9.5 million jobs within the industry, which shows tourism’s critical role in the country’s economic recovery from Covid pandemic-related losses and growth strategy.

Photo credit: Oriental Mindoro Tourism Office