Philippines Tourism Statistics

The 2009 STEP is a nationwide survey of establishments in the formal sector engaged in tourism characteristic industries only, as well as, health and wellness industries. Identified industries for health and wellness are included due to the increasing demand for statistics on these activities.

The 2009 STEP covered completely four tourism characteristic industries namely:

• Hotels and motels (H55110)
• Pension houses (H55191)
• Other short-stay accommodation (H55199)
• Chartered buses and cars operation (I60940)

Also included for scope and coverage of 2009 STEP are those establishments engaged in the following:

• Accommodation (H55120, H55192)
• Restaurant (H552)
• Passenger transport
• Transport equipment rental
• Travel agency, tour operator and tourist guide services
• Recreation, entertainment, cultural services and similar activities
• Financial and insurance activities
• Health and wellness

Response rate

A total of 503 or 86.4 percent responded out of the 582 sample establishments drawn for the sector. These include receipts of "good" questionnaires, partially accomplished questionnaires, and reports of closed, moved out or out of scope establishments.

Concepts and Definition of Terms

Ambulatory clinic an institution primarily organized to provide elective surgical treatment of out-patients whose recovery, under normal and routine circumstances, will not require in-patient care.

Aromatherapy a type of complementary and alternative medicine that uses rubbing and kneading of the skin with plant oils that give-off strong, pleasant aromas (smells) in an attempt to promote relaxation, a sense of well-being, and healing. There is no evidence of any long term results other than the pleasure achieved from a pleasant-smelling massage.

Beauty/Barber shop an establishment dealing with cosmetic treatments for men and women. Other variations of this type of business include hair salons and spas. There is a distinction between a beauty salon and a hair salon and although many small businesses do offer both sets of treatments; beauty salon provided more generalized services related to skin health, facial aesthetic, foot care, aromatherapy, - even meditation, oxygen therapy, mud baths and innumerable other services.

Body Pack and Wrap involves reviving of skin through the method of body pack using different methods such as mud body pack and wrap.