Southeast Asian nations should improve the region’s competitiveness as a tourist destination and promote Asean as a single destination in order to gain sustainable and inclusive growth, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said.
At the sidelines of a tourism forum in Singapore, Teo said boosting arrivals allows the members of the Asean to reap the benefits of growth.
The campaign to promote Asean as a single and unified travel destination is part of the Asean Tourism Strategic Plan, Teo said.
Latest data on visitor arrivals show that for November 2016, the number of visitors from 9 Asean countries accounts for only 7.9% of the total tourist arrivals in the Philippines, the Department of Tourism said in a statement.
Most arrivals to the Philippines came from Singapore (161,194), followed by Malaysia (128,077); Thailand (44,372); Indonesia (40,651); Vietnam (31,555); Brunei (7,378); Myanmar (6,832); Cambodia (3,278); and Laos (1,112).
The Philippines currently holds the chairmanship of the ASEAN, and will host celebrations for the association’s 50th anniversary this year.
This story was first published on ABS-CBN News Online and republished with permission.
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