MANILA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua): Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos has ordered government agencies to work on the extension of e-visa for travellers from major tourism markets in Asia, including China, to boost the recovery of the sector.
The Presidential Communications Office said Marcos issued the directive during a meeting with a private-sector tourism advisory council that had recommended the inclusion of Indian nationals under the visa-upon-arrival program and the extension of e-visa to Chinese, Indian, South Korean and Japanese citizens.
The government is collaborating on developing the technical plans, including various "connectivity matters."
As a key economic driver, the tourism industry's contribution to the Philippines' gross domestic product stood at 12.7 per cent in 2019.
Over 1.74 million Chinese tourists visited the South-East Asian country in 2019. The Philippines has set a target for 2023 to lure some 4.8 million international visitors, with the Chinese tourist market remaining on its priority list. - Xinhua
