DOT Welcomes 5 Millionth Visitor with a Sweet Surprise
LUCKY VISIT. Gabby Grantham meets the Tourism officials who welcomed her with a surprise for being the 5 millionth visitor of the Philippines. Photo Courtesy of The Philippine Star.
Imagine just planning to spend your holiday in the Philippines without expecting anything. Then suddenly, as you reach the airport terminal, a group of people welcome you with a surprise. Looks incredible, right?
On December 21, Filipino American Gabby Grantham was welcomed a sweet surprise from the Philippine’s Department of Tourism (DOT) upon her arrival. Grantham is the lucky 5 millionth visitor of the Philippines, who flew via Philippine Airlines that landed at 3:48 am in Manila.
According to the lucky female tourist, she plans to visit her grandparents in Cebu and explore Palawan for her two-week stay in the Philippines. But with her being the lucky visitor, she gets much more of her intended vacation. She will be receiving a package tour with hotel accommodation as her prize.
Having 5 million visitors in the Philippines is already a big achievement, says the Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr., who welcomed Grantham in the airport. The Tourism office looks forward to award the next six and seven millionth visitor who comes to Manila in the future as well. With the surge of tourists coming to the Philippines, it produces great impact to the tourism industry of the country. With that being said, the DOT expects to have 5.2 million tourist arrivals by the end of 2015 and aims to double the numbers by next year.
