Update on Foreign Visitors, Returning Filipinos in PH this December
Foreign visitors and the returning Filipinos in the Philippines doubled in number this year 2021 compared to last year’s.
Many Filipinos abroad go home to their families in the Philippines every December to spend the holiday season with their loved ones. A lot of Pinoys attest that it is really different to be in your home country and be with your loved ones during special occasions like Christmas and New Year celebrations.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic which started more than a year ago, many Pinoys abroad have not returned to the country for several months or more than a year until recently when the restrictions eased. Thus, the number of returning Filipinos this December is higher compared to last year’s records.
Aside from the number of returning Filipinos, based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the foreign visitors this December is also higher compared to the records of last year’s visitors from other countries.
According to the report, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said that there is a total of 16,905 foreign visitors in the country this December. Out of the said total number, 12,455 are Americans; 2,805 are Canadians; and 1,645 are Japanese.
Bureau of Immigration Port Operations Division Chief Atty. Carlos Capulong also said that the arrivals in the country last December 24 and 25 doubled compared to 2020’s records. From 5,478 arrivals last year, it rose to 11,074 this year.
While the arrivals were big this month, there are also a lot of Filipinos who left the country this month. According to Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, the total number of Filipinos who went abroad this December reached 117,795. He added that the number may still increase by 20,000 to 50,000 before the year ends.
The two (2) Bureau of Immigration officials said that the arrivals and departures are far to the pre-pandemic records. They are still very low due to the travel restrictions set by different countries.
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