Americans Still Top RP Visitors Despite Travel Ban

MANILA, November 12, 2004 (STAR) Americans have remained the country's
top tourists despite a US government warning that travel to the
Philippines could be dangerous.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano said 352,132 Americans visited the
country from January to September, representing 20.9 percent of the total
international arrivals this year.

"The increase in arrivals, especially from American nationals clearly
proved that the perception of the Philippines as a dangerous destination
for tourists is untrue," he said.

He was not clear how many of the tourists were Filipino-Americans.

Durano said Americans and Japanese are security conscious, and yet they
continue to come to the Philippines in large numbers for the past months.

"This should only mean that they find the Philippines safe, let alone
its various attractions," he said.

Apart from the Americans, Japanese tourists accounted for the largest
share of the recorded international arrivals of over one million from
January to September this year, he added.

Durano said China is among the top target tourist markets of the
Philippines, along with Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia,
Europe, Southeast Asia and North America.

Visitors from South Korea numbered 271,747 and accounted for 16.1
percent of total arrivals, while Chinese tourists reached 28,659 in
comparison with 22,729 in 2003, he added.

Durano said he would make the Philippines a leading tourist destination
through marketing suited for each and every target market.

The Department of Tourism's enhanced marketing plans would bring more
tourists to the country next year and in the following years, Durano said.
- Mayen Jaymalin

From: lquesada@newsflash.org