The increasing number of Chinese tourists visiting Manila demonstrates that economic relations between the Philippines and China “remain very strong” despite ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, PDP-Laban senatorial candidate and former Secretary Raul Lambino said on Monday.
“There is no doubt that both economic and people-to-people relations between the Philippines and China remain robust, as evidenced by the surge in Chinese visitors arriving in Manila,” Lambino said.
“We are counting on this growth in Chinese tourist arrivals to sustain the recovery of our tourism sector, which provides livelihoods for countless Filipinos,” added Lambino, who is also chairman of the Association for Philippines-China Understanding Inc. (APCU).
Lambino was responding to a Bureau of Immigration (BI) report stating that a total of 500,082 Chinese travelers arrived in the Philippines in 2024.
According to the BI, China ranked as the third-largest source of foreign visitors to the Philippines in 2024, following South Korea and the United States, which sent 1,761,281 and 1,325,684 visitors, respectively.
Lambino expects the full recovery of the Philippine tourism industry in the coming months to generate more job opportunities for Filipinos in various sectors, including hospitality, transportation, food and beverage, and entertainment services.
Lambino previously served in the Cabinet of the past administration and held key positions as the chief executive officer of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority and Presidential Adviser for Northern Luzon.
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