Ni NERIO AGUAS
Kumpiyansa ang Bureau of Immigration (BI) na madadagdagan ang bilang ng mga dayuhang turista sa pagtatapos ng taon dahil sa inilunsad na online extension ng ahensya.
Ayon kay BI tourist visa section Chief Raymond Remigio, nakapagtala ang ahensya ng mahigit 91,000 tourist visa extension noong unang bahagi ng 2023.
“This is a significant increase from July to December of last year when we only saw around 77,000 extensions. Our aggressive information campaign and our efforts to make applications easier for the transacting public has definitely contributed to this rise,” sabi ni Remigio.
Sinasabing inaasahan ang 20 porsiyentong tourist visa extensions sa nalalabing anim na buwan ng kasalukuyang taon.
“We fully support the Department of Tourism’s drive to invite tourists to visit and stay longer in the Philippines. The recent launch of our online visa extension is a significant step to make it easy for foreign nationals to comply with BI policies and prevent them from overstaying. Whether they choose to apply for extensions on-site or on-line, it will definitely be easy and convenient for them,” ayon sa BI.
Iniulat din ni Remigio na ang mga on-site tourist visa extensions ay maaari nang maproseso habang hinihintay ng mga dayuhan.
“With our streamlined operations, and with the management introducing online options, foreign nationals will definitely be feel the change and improvements of our Bureau,” aniya pa.
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