9 out of 10 visitors in East Visayas are domestic tourists

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January 6, 2012

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Nine out of ten visitors in Eastern Visayas are domestic tourists, the National Statistical Coordination Board in Region 8 informed.

Ms. Evangeline Paran, head of NSCB-8 said that in 2010, the total visitor arrivals in Eastern Visayas totaled 199,705. Domestic tourists accounted for the bulk with a total of 186,670 or 92%.

The Statistical Office attributed the large number of domestic tourists to the competitive rates offered by various airlines and shipping lines.

The domestic tourist arrivals significantly increased by 14.3% in 2010, Ms. Paran disclosed.

Foreign tourist arrivals recorded totaled 15,860, comprising only 7.9% of the total visitor arrivals, Ms. Paran added.

Meanwhile, a total of 175 Overseas Filipinos visited the region. Tourists coming from America topped the foreign visitors at 5,104, with the majority or 5,082 coming from North America, particularly the U.S.A.

Europeans followed at 2,956, mostly coming from Western Europe at 1,780, with Germans topping the list at 824.

Asians came in third at 2,026, with the majority coming from East Asia at 1,502. Most East Asian visitors were Japanese, followed by Chinese, Koreans and Taiwanese.

Among provinces in the region, Leyte recorded the highest number of visitors at 126,172 or 63.2% of the total number of tourists. Southern Leyte came next with 41,510 tourists or 20.8%.