The Philippines welcomed just over 4.08 million foreign tourists in the first nine months of 2024. This marked a 10.4 percent increase compared to the same period last year. According to data from the Department of Tourism, foreign tourists made up about 92 percent of total arrivals. The remaining portion included individuals classified as overseas Filipinos.
By September 30, the country had recorded nearly 4.44 million total arrivals. This number included 355,692 entries by overseas Filipinos. These travelers, who hold Philippine passports and live abroad permanently, contributed to a 4.8 percent increase in this segment compared to the previous year.
Importantly, the Philippines continues to stand out as one of the few Asian countries with a robust casino industry. Unlike most of its regional neighbors, the country keeps its gaming sector open to both local and international players. As a result, it remains an attractive destination for tourists seeking entertainment beyond beaches and shopping.
South Korea once again led all source markets for inbound tourists. From January to September, nearly 1.2 million South Korean travelers arrived in the Philippines. This group accounted for approximately 27 percent of all foreign visitors. Moreover, this figure reflected a solid 12.1 percent increase from last year.
Meanwhile, the United States ranked second. American tourists contributed 694,142 arrivals during the first nine months of 2024. That figure made up about 15.6 percent of total arrivals. In addition, it represented a year-on-year increase of 1.7 percent.
Japan secured third place among top sources. The country sent 293,658 visitors, accounting for nearly 6.6 percent of all international arrivals. Compared to the previous year, this marked a significant 31.7 percent jump.
China followed in fourth place. Although it had dropped a rank in August, it still contributed a notable number of tourists. By the end of September, the Philippines had received about 260,134 visitors from China. This made up roughly 5.9 percent of the total. Even so, the country saw a strong 30.3 percent rise in Chinese tourist arrivals compared to last year.
Looking ahead, the Philippines aims to attract 7.7 million foreign visitors in 2024. This goal builds on the momentum from 2023, when the country welcomed 5.45 million international arrivals. Notably, 91.8 percent of those visitors were foreign nationals.
In late July, the Department of Tourism expressed confidence that the Philippines could exceed its tourism revenue target for the year. Officials cited the consistent growth in visitor arrivals as a key reason for their optimism. So far, numbers have regularly outperformed projections—giving further reason to expect strong results by year-end.
