The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is the first amongst the regions to start estimating subnational Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSA). In line with other programs and projects of the region, CAR TSA data is part of the coverage of Republic Act No. 9593, otherwise known as "The Tourism Act of 2009" that "declares tourism as an indispensable element of the national economy and an industry of national interest and importance."

Domestic tourism refers to the activities of a resident visitor (overnight and same day) within the country of reference either as part of a domestic tourism trip or part of an outbound tourism trip (IRTS 2008, para. 2.39a). Further, domestic tourism consumption refers to the tourism consumption of a resident visitor within the economy of reference.

The average daily expenditure of domestic visitors exhibited an increasing trend over the six-year period. An overnight visitor spent an average of PhP 3,484.64 per day in 2016 and increased to PhP 4,013.35 in 2021. The average daily expenditure of a same-day visitor also increased from PhP 2,602.94 in 2016 to PhP 2,930.70 in 2021.

The total domestic tourism expenditure in 2016 amounted to PhP 7.46 billion which increased to PhP 9.13 billion in 2017, and further increased to PhP 10.70 billion in 2018. However, it slightly decreased to PhP 9.74 billion in 2019 and dropped to PhP 1.80 billion in 2020. Domestic tourist expenditure increased to PhP 2.10 billion in 2021. The total domestic expenditure exhibited an increasing trend from 2016-2018, decreased in 2019 and 2020, and slightly increased in 2021.

Transportation services remained the highest contributor across the six-year period while Entertainment and recreation services remained to have contributed the least among the product items.

The total domestic tourism expenditure across all product items declined by -81.6 percent in 2020. Transportation services declined the most with -82.2 percent and Accommodation services for visitors declined the least with -80.9 percent.

The total domestic tourism expenditure gained an average increase of 17.62 percent in 2021 across all product items. Food and beverage serving services had the highest increase with 24.8 percent followed by country-specific tourism characteristic services: Shopping with 19.3 percent, then transportation services with 16.8 percent. Accommodation services for visitors gained the least increase with 12.4 percent.

Baguio City was the main contributor to the region’s total domestic tourism expenditure. In 2021, Baguio City contributed 69.0 percent, followed by Kalinga with 25.0 percent, and the rest of the provinces contributed the last 6.0 percent.

(SGD)
VILLAFE P. ALIBUYOG
Regional Director

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TECHNICAL NOTES

Tourism Satellite Accounts - an accounting framework adopted by the United Nations (UN) and is designed to measure goods and services associated with tourism activities according to international standards, concepts, classifications and definitions.

Inbound Tourism - comprises the activities of a non-resident visitor (foreign and overseas) within the country of reference on an inbound tourism trip (IRTS 2008, para. 2.39b).

Inbound Tourism Consumption - comprises the tourism consumption of a non-resident visitor within the economy of reference.

Domestic Tourism - refers to the activities of a resident visitor (overnight and same-day) within the country of reference either as part of a domestic tourism trip or part of an outbound tourism trip (IRTS 2008, para. 2.39a).

Domestic Tourism Consumption - refers to the tourism consumption of a resident visitor within the economy of reference.

Internal Tourism - refers to the activities of resident (domestic) and non-resident (inbound) visitors within the country of reference as part of domestic or international trips.

Internal Tourism Consumption - refers to the tourism consumption of both resident and non-resident visitors within the economy of reference. It is the sum of domestic tourism consumption and inbound tourism consumption.

Internal Tourism Expenditure - the sum of inbound and domestic tourist expenditure.