By Rose Frejane Cruz

 

BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Tourism-Cordillera reported that a total of  1,983,511 million tourists flocked in Cordillera, mostly in the Summer Capital in 2024, compared to 1,685,133 million tourists in 2023.

Tourists arriving in Baguio City last year accounted for more than 1.56 million or 78 percent of the more than 1.98 million arrivals recorded in the region last year.

Based on the data, tourist arrivals in Mountain Province came second with 151,183 while arrivals in Kalinga came third with 132,771.

Benguet had 67,428 tourist arrivals followed by Ifugao – 48,0811 arrivals, Apayao – 21,611 arrivals and Abra – 2,225 arrivals.

According to DOT Regional Director Jovita Ganongan said that tourist arrivals in the region last year recorded a 17.71 percent increase compared to the more than 1,683 tourist arrivals last year.

According to him, all provinces recorded a significant increase in both foreign and domestic tourist arrivals which contributed to an infusion of about P10.7 billion into the regional economy.

Under the updated data on visitor spending by the tourism department, each foreign visitor spends about P7,000 daily at their destination while a domestic tourist spends about P4,000 daily.

She pointed out that the region is targeting the international market to help significantly increase foreign tourist arrivals in various tourist destinations to further enhance the local economy.

Last year, foreign tourists arrived in the region, accounting for just over two percent of the total tourist arrivals reported while domestic tourist arrivals reached over 97 percent.