It’s 25.7 million, not 65 million, domestic travelers in 2012

This refers to Bernardo M. Villegas’ column titled “The future of Philippine tourism” (Opinion, 5/20/17). In the sixth paragraph of that column, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) was mentioned thus: “Tourism also should include the more than 65 million domestic travelers, as reported in the 2015 Domestic Household Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistical Authority” (sic). We thank Mariel Angelica A. Dimaano of the Tourism Promotions Board for calling our attention to this.

We would like to clarify that the latest results of the Household Survey on Domestic Visitors (HSDV) can be sourced from the 2012 round of the survey, released in December 2013 through https:// psa.gov.ph/content/four-ten-filipinos-15-years-old-and-over-had-visited-place-within-country-2012-results-2012. As of date, the PSA has not yet released any results of the 2016 round of the survey.

HSDV is a nationwide survey designed to collect information on domestic tourism for policymaking purposes. It is conducted by the PSA in collaboration with the Department of Tourism.

Examining the press release tables of HSDV 2012, it may be noted that, contrary to the cited information, the reported figure of 65 million domestic travelers that Villegas cited refers to the population consisting of 15 years old and above based on “Table 1: Percent Distribution of Domestic Travelers During the Past Six Months by Sex, Age Group, Travel Arrangement and Number of Trips and Travels Made, Philippines: 2012.” The correct figure should be 39.2 percent of 65.5 million or 25.7 million. In particular, an estimate of 25.7 million Filipinos,
15 years old and above, had traveled to any place within the country from April to September 2012.

JOSIE B. PEREZ, assistant secretary, deputy national statistician, officer in charge, Philippine Statistics Authority