Tourism in 2023 played a significant role in the economy, contributing 8.6 percent to the gross domestic product, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed.
For years 2021 and 2022, tourism contributed 5.2 percent and 6.4 percent for GDP, respectively.
Tourism direct gross value added reached P2.09 trillion, marking a substantial 48 percent increase from P1.41 trillion in 2022, marking the highest growth rate in tourism since data compilation began in 2000.
The Tourism Satellite Account encompasses various sectors, including accommodation services, food and beverage serving activities, transport services, travel agencies, entertainment and recreation services, shopping, and miscellaneous services.
Among these, inbound tourism expenditure saw the largest annual growth, surging by 88 percent to P697.46 billion in 2023.
Domestic tourism expenditure followed closely with a 72 percent increase, rising to P2.67 trillion in 2023. Meanwhile, outbound tourism expenditure grew by 10 percent, reaching P208.25 billion last year.
Combined, internal tourism expenditure (inbound and domestic) rose by 75 percent to P3.36 trillion.
Employment in tourism-related industries totaled 6.21 million in 2023, reflecting a 6.4 percent increase from 5.84 million in 2022. Tourism-related industries accounted for 12.9 percent of total employment in the country for 2023.
Overall, these figures underscore tourism’s growing importance in the Philippine economy, driven by robust growth in both domestic and international tourism expenditures, significant contributions to GDP, and substantial employment generation within tourism-related sectors.
