The low influx of tourists to the city was noted last year with only one percent growth and a slight decline of domestic travelers.
The National Economic and Development Authority reported that the tourism sector’s performance in the region in 2010 was “rather flat as reflected in the volume of visitor arrivals.”
Regional director Ma. Lourdes Lim of Neda said the region recorded a total of 671,603 visitor arrivals during the first three quarters last year, which she said “reflects a sluggish growth of only 1% over the same period the previous year.”
Lim said there was a slight decline in the number of domestic travelers, yet she noted that the sector still comprised the bulk at 92.3% share.
Influx of foreign tourists improved by 7% compared to 2009’s 2%, while the overseas Filipino tourists, or Balikbayans, also picked up at 7.7%, Lim said, adding that among the foreign tourists, Americans accounted for the highest number of arrivals, followed by Japanese and Koreans in that order.
In 2010, the tourism sector earned P8.2 billion in tourist receipts for the region, Lim said, adding that it’s almost the same level as 2009 at P8.1 billion.
