Philippine Tourism Experiences Robust Recovery in 2022: Inbound and Domestic Tourism Fuel Growth and Employment

The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) is buoyant about the country’s tourism industry’s strong recovery, backed by promising data in the Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts (PTSA) for 2022, compiled by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In 2022, the tourism sector’s contribution to the national economy, represented by the Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA), was 6.2% of the GDP. This represents a 36.9% rise, with the TDGVA reaching PHP 1.38 trillion in 2022, compared to PHP 1.00 trillion in 2021. Internal tourism expenditure also saw a significant leap, growing by 131.2% to PHP 1.87 trillion in 2022, from PHP 810 billion the previous year.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco attributes these gains to the current administration’s concerted approach to tourism. She also emphasized the importance of making the tourism industry sustainable and resilient in the following years as the sector continues to rebound post-pandemic.

Inbound tourism expenditure saw the most significant growth, increasing by 1,234.2% to PHP 368.67 billion in 2022, up from PHP 27.63 billion in 2021. This represented 5.9% of the country’s total exports in 2022, compared to a 0.6% share in 2021.

There was also notable growth in domestic tourism, with domestic tourism expenditure reaching PHP 1.50 trillion in 2022, a 92.3% increase from the PHP 782.57 billion in 2021. The DOT has launched initiatives to boost domestic tourism, including regional travel fairs and programs to promote lesser-known destinations.

Employment in the tourism sector also rose in 2022, with 5.35 million people employed in tourism-related industries, a 9.3% increase from 4.9 million in 2021. The share of employment in the tourism industry in relation to total employment also increased, rising from 11.1% in 2021 to 11.4% in 2022.

Related posts:

Department of Tourism Cancels Contract with Ad Firm Over Controversial ‘Love the Philippines’ Campaign Despite Criticism and International Flak, DOT Insists on Retaining ‘Love the Philippines’ Tourism Slogan Significant Progress in Philippine Tourism Under President Marcos Jr.’s First Year: Key Highlights and Future Plans Philippines Department of Tourism Unveils First-Ever Tourist Assistance Call Center