MANILA - Tourist arrivals in the Philippines for 2007 rose 8.7 percent from the previous year to a record 3.09 million, the tourism department said Friday.

Expenditures from tourists reached 4.89 billion dollars, up 41 percent from the same period in 2006, the department said. South Koreans were the most numerous visitors with 653,310 arrivals a 14.2 percent increase over 2006.

The United States was the second largest contingent with 578,953, a two percent increase from 2006.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano said he hopes the country can post about 3.3 million tourist arrivals and 5.8 billion dollars in expenditures in 2008.

The department said it is encouraging private companies to schedule more events and promotions so that tourists will stay longer and spend more money.

The Philippines saw 2.843 million tourist arrivals in 2006.