The Philippines remains a favorite tourist destination despite the political turmoil that beset the country this year, the Bureau of Immigration said.

From January to November this year, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) recorded a total of 4,863,221 foreign arrivals. The number was eight percent higher during the same period last year which was only 4,500,698.

"Contrary to what the surveys say, it appears that the confidence of foreigners in our country remains strong despite the assertions of government critics that we do not enjoy a good reputation in the international community," Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said.

"The facts will speak for themselves," he said.

Records showed that Americans topped the list of foreigners who arrived in the country followed by Koreans, Japanese, Chinese and Britons.

Libanan said among the facts that contributed to the increase of tourist visits in the country is the policy increasing the maximum stay of foreigners from one year to two years.