MANILA, Philippines – The government’s efforts to improve the Philippines’ air connectivity with other countries will continue to stimulate increased tourist arrivals in the country this 2017, a senior official of the Department of Tourism (DOT) said.

Tourism Undersecretary for development planning Benito Bengzon told The STAR the country would achieve its 6.5 million foreign tourist target in 2017 on the back of improved accessibility.

“Growth will be fueled by improved air connectivity with more foreign and domestic airlines operating in our primary and secondary airports,” Bengzon said in a text message.

Aside from foreign tourists, the DOT is also targeting 73.3 million domestic travels within the country.

The government is also eyeing P407 billion and P1.954 trillion in revenues from the spending of foreign and domestic tourists, respectively.

The DOT’s Route Development Team, for its part, said it is continuing its efforts to open new routes, particularly short-haul flights.

Erwin Balane, the team’s head, told The STAR. The DOT is eyeing to launch more flight connections with its Asian neighbors.

Trips to the country’s secondary airports have been increasing, as well.

Earlier, the DOT Route Development Team said it inaugurated China Eastern Airlines’ Wuhan-Cebu flights, the first local connection to that part of China.

According to Bengzon, more local spots are starting to emerge as more tourists have been looking for less traveled destinations to explore.

“Emerging destinations will provide more options for travelers, especially those looking for off-the-beaten path types,” he said.

It is part of the DOT’s thrusts to develop more destinations to diversify the country’s tourism portfolio, as well as promote inclusive growth in local communities.

Bengzon said the DOT is also continuing its efforts to promote the country in new target markets.

“The DOT, meanwhile, will continue to look at opportunity markets that will help improve the country with a larger market base,” he said.

Earlier, Bengzon cited Israel and Turkey as some emerging high-growth markets which the agency is aggressively tapping.

In 2016, the DOT’s foreign arrivals target was six million.

Official data from the DOT as of Oct. 30 showed that tourist arrivals in the country have already summed up to roughly 4.91 million, 11.65 percent higher than last year’s record of 4.4 million.