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MANILA, Philippines -- The Bureau of Immigration on Thursday said the number of foreigners who arrived in the country in September was eight percent more than the number in the same month last year.
Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said 384,948 foreigners entered the country through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and other ports of entry last month, compared to the 356,760 in the same period last year.
"The upsurge in foreigner arrivals indicates that the Philippines is still an attractive tourism and investment destination amid the turmoil plaguing the world?s financial markets," Libanan said.
Libanan is optimistic the continued influx of tourists and investors will help offset any adverse effects the world financial crisis may have on the Philippine economy.
He also noted an 11-percent drop in the number of foreigners who left the country in September.
There were 421,208 foreigners who left the country last month, compared to 471,638 in the same period last year.
Libanan also said more than 4.3 million foreigners have visited the country from January to September, eight-percent more than the first nine months last year.
BI records show the biggest number of visitors came from the US, with 524,339, followed by 479,830 Koreans and 293,965 Japanese.
Of the foreign visitors, 2.041 million were tourist, while rest expatriate businessmen and holders of other immigrant and non-immigrant visas, such as investors and retirees.
