MANILA, Philippines –The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported Sunday that more than 3.4- million foreigners arrived in the country last year, despite the series of travel warnings against the Philippines. Records showed that the figures were up by almost 20 percent, compared to those who entered the country in 2009.
BI acting Commissioner Ronaldo Ledesma said foreigner arrivals totaled 3,451,668 in 2010, or 19.5 per cent higher than the 2,887,303 who came to the country in 2009.
Ledesma said the negative advisories by foreign governments warning their citizens against going to the Philippines did not have any impact at all.
International traveler arrivals even peaked during the last quarter of the year, when most of the advisories were issued due to alleged threats of terror attacks in the country, he said.
BI records showed that from 188,028 foreign visitor arrivals last September, the number increased steadily to 204,779 last October, 218,482, November; and 265,651 in December.
“These numbers send a very clear message that the confidence of the international community in the Philippines and to the government of President Aquino is very strong,” Ledesma said. “No amount of alleged or perceived terror threats can shake or erode that confidence.”
Ledesma noted that the BI statistics are consistent with the tourism department’s target of 3.3-million tourist arrivals in 2010.
Jun Ramirez, Manila Bulletin
