Korea, Japan, United States is still Cebu’s top tourist markets

South Korea, Japan and the United States have remained as Cebu’s top three tourist markets although visitors from these countries declined during the first six months of the year, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT) 7.

The South Koreans made up 27.83 percent of Cebu’s tourist market, followed by the Japanese at 21.38 percent and the Americans at 9.90 percent.

However, the size of each tourist market has decreased compared to figures in the same period in 2008.

The Koreans who came to Cebu decreased by 13.37 percent from 103,139 during the first semester last year to only 89,346 during the same period this year.

The number of Japanese tourists, on the other hand, declined by 6.77 percent or from 73,642 Japanese visitors in the first six months of 2008 to 68,655 Japanese visitors in the same period this year.

The US tourist market posted a decline of 14.09 percent, as it recorded only 31,800 visitors from January to June this year from the 37,014 visitors within the same period last year.

The other countries in Cebu’s top 10 tourist markets that are experiencing a decline in visitors arrivals for the same period include Taiwan, Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Tourism Undersecretary Phineas Alburo attributed the decline to the global financial crisis and the influenza A(H1N1) virus pandemic, which have affected the tourism industry.

He expressed his opinion that arrivals from these travel markets will again pick up within November to December, in time for the holidays.

Despite the decline in some markets, Cebu registered a growth in other tourist markets, including China – 85.45 percent. Hong Kong – 12.84 percent, Russia – 52.86 percent, Vietnam, – 91.78 percent, India – 38.06 percent and Denmark – 23.66 percent, among others.

Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries collectively posted a 297.60 percent growth or from 2,004 visitors in the first half of 2008 to 7,068 visitors in the same period this year.

Get Philippine Travel News on your inbox - Join Lakbay Pilipinas Mailing List