Korean tourists still top PH arrivals in 2024
South Korean nationals remained the Philippines' biggest source of arrivals in 2024, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
In a statement released on Tuesday, the BI said a total of 1,761,281 South Koreans visited the Philippines last year.
'The Philippines continues to be a preferred destination for South Koreans, not only because of our natural attractions but also for our thriving English language programs, which are especially popular among families with young learners during school holidays,' said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.
The BI also said that recent moves by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to increase security for foreign visitors in the country helped in boosting the tourist arrival numbers.
'As President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has underscored, tourism is a vital pillar of our economic recovery and sustained growth. The BI stands in solidarity with the DOT in ensuring that our borders are safe, secure, and welcoming to our international guests,' Viado said.
BI also said that they are now working with DOT, foreign embassies, and relevant law enforcement agencies to further strengthen the country's security for tourists.
'We have maintained strong cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and law enforcement counterparts, especially in intelligence-sharing, monitoring of transnational crimes, and rapid response to incidents involving Korean nationals. This collaborative approach strengthens confidence and promotes mutual protection,' he added. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
DBM released P1.347B for E-gates project
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Tuesday announced it has released a total of P1.347 billion to fund the ongoing Electronic Gates (E-gates) project at major international gateways across the country. The E-gates project modernizes and digitizes the primary inspection process at the country's international gateways to further strengthen national security, improve efficiency, and elevate the overall experience of passengers while addressing issues of immigration congestion, according to the DBM. "To fulfill President Bongbong Marcos' directive of providing convenience to travelers, whether locals or foreign visitors, and reduce long queues at immigration counters, the DBM already released the budget allocation for the E-gates project for 2025 amounting to P1.347 billion," said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. "I would also like to note that in 2024, we were also able to release P1.976 billion to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for them to procure for the phase 1 of the project. Magpapatuloy po 'yan hanggang phase 3 sa 2026. This year, nasa phase 2 na po tayo and we are appealing to the BI na tapusin na agad ang procurement process para maging fully operational na ang E-gates project as soon as possible," added the Budget chief. Several existing e-gates were installed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and will be expanded to other premier international gateways in the country's, according to the DBM. The expansion of the E-gates project is set to enhance the efficiency of security and immigration processes by catering to arriving and departing passengers, regardless of their citizenship, the Budget Department said. The project is expected to replace 50% of the overall manned inspection counters with modernized technology. Based on the project's modernization plan, the deployment of e-gates and corresponding funding provision will be distributed to the following airports/seaport: NAIA Terminals I & III Clark International Airport Mactan Cebu International Airport Davao International Airport Kalibo International Airport Boracay-Caticlan International Airport Zamboanga International Seaport Laoag International Airport Bohol-Panglao International Airport Puerto Princesa International Airport Meanwhile, the target date for the full employment of operational e-gates is set on or before December 15, 2025, according to the DBM.— AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- GMA Network
Korean tourists still top PH arrivals in 2024
South Korean nationals remained the Philippines' biggest source of arrivals in 2024, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI). In a statement released on Tuesday, the BI said a total of 1,761,281 South Koreans visited the Philippines last year. 'The Philippines continues to be a preferred destination for South Koreans, not only because of our natural attractions but also for our thriving English language programs, which are especially popular among families with young learners during school holidays,' said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado. The BI also said that recent moves by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to increase security for foreign visitors in the country helped in boosting the tourist arrival numbers. 'As President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has underscored, tourism is a vital pillar of our economic recovery and sustained growth. The BI stands in solidarity with the DOT in ensuring that our borders are safe, secure, and welcoming to our international guests,' Viado said. BI also said that they are now working with DOT, foreign embassies, and relevant law enforcement agencies to further strengthen the country's security for tourists. 'We have maintained strong cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and law enforcement counterparts, especially in intelligence-sharing, monitoring of transnational crimes, and rapid response to incidents involving Korean nationals. This collaborative approach strengthens confidence and promotes mutual protection,' he added. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
03-06-2025
- GMA Network
Anne Curtis meets Park Bo Gum
Anne Curtis met South Korean superstar Park Bo Gum! On Instagram, the actress shared photos of her attending the world premiere of Prime Video series "Good Boy" in Bangkok, Thailand. Anne posed with the three main stars of the series: Bo Gum, Lee Sang Yi, and Kim So Hyun. She also took a selfie with Park Bo Gum. "Bad boys move over — the Good Boy era begins now. Visited bkk for the premiere and sat down with the cast as we got to know more about their characters! Interview coming soon!" she wrote in the caption. Park Bo Gum recently starred in hit Korean series "When Life Gives You Tangerines." He is also known for his roles in "Reply 1988," "Record of Youth," "Encounter," and "Love in the Moonlight." He is coming to Manila in August for a fan meeting. Meanwhile, "Good Boy" is an action comedy series that follows former athletes who became police officers. They use their skills from their sports days to fight violent crime. —MGP, GMA Integrated News
