More Inbound Travelers Visit Philippines As Entry Restrictions Ease

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Tourists arrive on February 11, 2022 in Paranaque, Philippines, after arriving at Terminal 1 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) (Xinhua / Ruel Humali)

The official said the number of arrivals to the Philippines has increased steadily since February, when travel restrictions related to COVID-19 were lifted. Foreign visitors who are currently fully vaccinated in the country can enter without being quarantined.

MANILA, April 4 (Xinhua) More incoming passengers are visiting the Philippines as Southeast Asian countries eased entry restrictions, allowing all combined foreign visitors to enter without quarantine.

Filipino foreign worker Ayum Rivera, his wife and daughter were reunited with their families in the Philippines on Friday after living in Dubai for four years after their arrival.

The family was scheduled to return home in April 2020 for the wedding, but the pandemic thwarted their plans. In an effort to ease travel restrictions, the couple decided to get married in a civil ceremony in Dubai, where their daughter was born.

When the Philippines relaxed the rules of travel, the couple decided to return home and share their happiness with family members living in Albay province, 500 miles south of Manila.

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A tourist arrives at Terminal 1 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Paranaque, Philippines, on February 11, 2022 (Xinhua / Ruel Humali)

The Philippine Immigration Bureau has recorded an increase in the number of Filipinos overseas and foreign tourists since the country eased epidemic cuts more than two years ago.

"The number of arrivals has increased steadily since February, when travel restrictions were lifted," immigration spokeswoman Dana Sandoval told a virtual news conference.

The number of daily arrivals fell below 5,000 by February, the number rose to about 9,000 after opening and rose to 12,000 by the end of March, Sandoval said.

Since April 1, the Philippines has reverted to immigration entry rules before the pandemic, allowing fully vaccinated travelers from all countries to enter without quarantine.

According to Sandoval, most of the travelers who come are Filipinos on vacation like Rivera and about 30% are foreign nationals.

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Moonlight on a beach in Batangas province, Philippines, on November 18, 2021. Batangas is one of the most popular tourist destinations near Manila. (Xinhua / Roel Homali)

"The main visitors were Koreans, as well as people from the United States and Japan, where many Filipinos live with foreign families," Sandoval said, adding that the office expects more tourists to arrive in the country this summer.

"Historically, foreigners from cold countries visit the Philippines because of our tropical climate," he says.

Prior to the blast, Sandoval said, the main visitors to the country were from South Korea and China.

Our borders are open. "We are almost back in visa policy before the pandemic as we enter a new normalcy," Sandoval said.

However, he reminded travelers of the need to follow basic health rules, such as wearing a face mask, keeping a safe distance or avoiding crowds to stay safe and healthy.

COVID-19 infections continue to fall in the Philippines. Data from the Department of Health show that, on average, a country of about 110 million people has fewer than 400 cases per day. As of April 1, about 67 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated. ■

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