Philippine tourism stronger through innovation, connectivity and inclusion

“Philippine tourism today tells a story of resilience, recovery, and renewed ambition. From the early rebound in 2022 through solid gains in 2023 and sustained growth in 2024 and 2025, the sector has moved well beyond recovery mode. It is now building momentum. Each year of progress confirms that the Philippines has the demand, the products, and—most importantly—the people to compete on the global stage,” told Buensuceso during a press conference.

“The challenge ahead is to accelerate this trajectory by sustaining investment, expanding connectivity, and deepening partnerships so the country does not merely return to pre-pandemic levels, but surpasses them,” she added with a renewed sense of confidence.

Satisfactory numbers in 2025

International arrivals reflect this upward trend. From just 163,879 visitors in 2021, arrivals steadily climbed to nearly 6.5 million in 2025, signaling renewed global confidence in the Philippines as a premier Asian destination. Inbound tourism expenditure is estimated to have reached ₱694 billion (USD11.8 billion) in 2025, underscoring tourism’s central role in national development. Longer average stays (11 nights on average in 2025) and average daily visitor spending of USD122.85 point to stronger value perception and increasingly diversified travel patterns.

Policy reforms have played a critical role in this progress. Visa-free entry for Indian, Taiwanese, and Chinese nationals, cruise passenger visa waivers, the rollout of a digital nomad visa, and a forthcoming VAT refund system are all designed to promote frictionless travel and attract high-value visitors. At the same time, bilateral tourism agreements with partners across Asia and the Middle East have delivered tangible outcomes, from visa liberalization and lower travel advisories to new air routes and collaborative product development.

Working on better air connectivity

Connectivity remains the backbone of Philippine tourism and a vital pillar to further growth in tourism. “As an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands with no land borders, air access is essential,” highlighted Buensuceso.

New international routes in 2025 provide additional links to Manila and Cebu. “New routes were introduced from San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, New Delhi, Guam, Perth, and Brisbane to our key destinations of Manila and Cebu, while we also have a connection directly to Europe with Air France’s recent launch from Paris to Manila. Airlines also expanded domestic services with the opening gateways to secondary and emerging destinations. These connections help spread tourism benefits more evenly across regions, aligning with the National Tourism Development Plan’s goal of inclusive growth,” added the Undersecretary for tourism development.

Beyond access, the Department of Tourism is strengthening the visitor experience through digital services, improved infrastructure, skills training, and community-based programs that support MSMEs, overseas Filipino workers, seniors, and tour guides.

Many new initiatives help also diversifying the Philippines tourism portfolio. Among them are wellness, gastronomy, diving, sports, filming, cruises, MICE, and Muslim-friendly tourism. Together, these initiatives position tourism not only as an economic driver, but as a powerful instrument for inclusive, people-centered nation building.