Excitement in Philippines as Chinese tourists return

The Philippines welcomed the arrival of more than 100 Chinese tourists from Xiamen on Tuesday after Beijing relaxed COVID-19 travel restrictions for the Lunar New Year holiday.Musicians played traditional instruments as the passengers arrived in Manila, receiving a warm welcome, necklaces and other gifts.This is the first batch of a group tour to arrive in the country.

Christina Garcia Frasco, Philippine Tourism Secretary said "We anticipate even more Chinese tourists to arrive, and which will greatly help us in our efforts to transform and to recover the tourism industry as our intention is not only to regain our pre-pandemic numbers, but to exceed it, knowing how the relationship between the Philippines and China will only further improve in the years to come."

The Philippine Department of Tourism said China supplied the largest number of tourists of any nation in 2019, with 1.7 million visitors to the Philippines.The Philippines and China have agreed to boost tourism cooperation during a recent visit by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.