By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Noticing that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and “balikbayans” spend more during their short vacation in the country, House Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan on Monday called on the Department of Tourism (DOT) to encourage a larger number of Filipinos abroad to spend their holidays in the Philippines.
Libanan, who represents the 4Ps (Pagtibayin At Palaguin Ang Pangkabuhayang Pilipino) party-list and great grandson of Katipunan treasurer Valentin Diaz, said their spending can boost the country’s tourism revenues and jobs growth to a great extent.
“Compared to other foreign visitors, overseas Filipinos tend to spend considerably more money here during their vacations, mainly due to their strong social and economic ties,” he said.
Data from DOT revealed that 396,147 Philippine passport holders, who are also permanent residents (PR) overseas, have visited the country from January to November 2023.
“Many overseas Filipinos spend for the improvement of their ancestral homes here in the Philippines when they come for a visit, while others set up new investments, such as apartments for rent, to provide a recurring income stream to their relatives here,” Libanan noted.
He added that the Filipinos who are now PR in their respective adopted countries will “also likely to purchase locally made products to bring with them when they leave.”
“We want the Tourism Promotions Board to draw up a new marketing plan that will purposely entice overseas Filipinos to come and visit their motherland,” Libanan said.
(IAmigo/MNM)