As a tropical archipelago with many thousands of kilometres of sandy beaches and a uniquely varied hinterland, the Philippines have been a popular tourist destination for decades.
Here, tourists from all over the world can find a colourful kaleidoscope of coastal landscapes, precipitous mountain ranges, gentle rolling hills, rain forests and active volcanoes. The contrast between the tranquil life of the islands and the pulsating hustle and bustle of the modern metropolises such as Cebu City, Davao and, especially, Manila is fascinating.
Some of the most important sights in the interior are the spectacularly beautiful rice terraces, some of which are more than a thousand years old, and the numerous cultural monuments dating back to colonial times.
Visitors have access to some 40 national parks containing tropical plants and animals. Diving among extensive coral reefs enriches the classical beach holiday.
Annual visitors (in millions)
| 2001 | 1.8 |
| 2002 | 1.9 |
| 2003 | 1.9 |
| 2004 | 2.3 |
| 2005 | 2.6 |
| 2006 | 2.8 |
| 2007 | 3.0 |
| 2008 | 3.1 |
| 2009 | 3.0 |
| 2010 | 3.5 |
Country of origin of visitors in 2010
| 1. Korea | 21.0% |
| 2. USA | 17.0% |
| 3. Japan | 10.2% |
| 4. China | 5.3% |
| 5. Australia | 4.2% |
| 6. Taiwan | 4.0% |
| 7. Hong Kong | 3.8% |
| 8. Singapore | 3.4% |
| 9. Canada | 3.0% |
| 10. Great Britain | 2.8% |
| 11. Malaysia | 2.3% |
| 12. Germany | 1.7% |
Further information
Fremdenverkehrsamt der Philippinen
Kaiserhofstraße 7, 60313 Frankfurt am Main
Telephone +49 69 2 08 93
Fax +49.69.28 51 27