MANILA: The Philippines is boosting efforts to attract Saudi tourists, its chief of mission in Riyadh told , as the embassy is working on receiving in Manila a delegation of industry players from the Kingdom.
Known for its white sandy beaches, diving spots, and diverse culture, the Philippine economy is dependent on tourism. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, nearly 8.3 million foreigners visited the country and the industry contributed nearly 13 percent, or about $44 billion, to the country’s gross domestic product in 2019.
After global travel came to a halt due to the pandemic, the Philippines focused on its recovery and expanded its goals to position itself as a leading halal tourism destination.
Saudi Arabia became its key target market among Muslim countries.
“We are aiming to invite, organize a delegation to Manila, to the Philippines … This year, hopefully, it will materialize. It will be a combination of tourism and trade industry players from Saudi Arabia.”
There is already awareness of the Philippines in the Kingdom as out of nearly 1.8 million overseas Filipino workers in Gulf countries, more than half live and work in Saudi Arabia, which has for decades been their preferred overseas employment destination.
