Abstract

The Department of Tourism conducts the Visitor Sample Survey (VSS) monthly and releases results annually. The VSS is a source of information on tourism indicators, characteristics and preferences of visitors in the Philippines, and of parameter estimates for measuring gross income derived from tourism. These serve as inputs to tourism development planning and policy formulation. The survey respondents were visitors departing from the Philippines from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. A total of 5,611 respondents were interviewed from January to December, 1992 based on a statistical selection of a week in a month and of flights per week. A profile of the visitors was as follows: 97% were foreign visitors (mostly Americans and Japanese) and 3% were overseas Filipinos; average age was 29 years; males comprised more than three-fourths; about three-fifths were married; almost two-thirds were college graduates; majority were professionals/technical workers, businessmen and managers/ executives; and reported average annual gross income was US$50,615. The average length of stay in the country was 12 nights. Shopping and sightseeing were the most common activities. Cebu was the popular destination outside of Metro Manila. Average daily expenditure of visitors was US$127.47.