Cebu has continued to be a favorite among tourists in Central Visayas as the government recorded 5.1 million arrivals in this island-province in 2024 out of the 7.5 million visitors that explored the region last year.
Department of Tourism regional director Judy Gabato said of the figure, 1.9 million were foreign visitors to Cebu; and another 3.2 million were domestic tourists.
𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟭𝟬 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗲𝗯𝘂 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰
1. South Korea — 1.028 million
2. USA — 234,511
3. Japan — 226,755
4. China — 127,084
5. Taiwan — 88,728
6. Australia — 71,872
7. Germany — 59,341
8. France — 54,448
9. United Kingdom — 53,459
10. Canada — 41,949
RD Gabato said Cebu and Bohol continued to be the most popular destinations for both domestic and foreign tourists, thanks to their rich cultural heritage and diverse tourism offerings.
The regional director also reported that the 7.5 million total visitors contributed P125.92 billion in tourism receipts, with each tourist spending an average of $2,073 per visit.
Tourists are also staying longer, with the average length of stay rising to over 11 nights, compared to nine nights recorded in 2019.
Additionally, 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs were generated in the tourism sector across Central Visayas last year.