The Department of Tourism (DOT) expects Philippine tourist arrivals to reach 6.4 million in 2026, nearly matching last year’s 6.48 million, amid the fuel crisis and higher airline fees.
Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said arrivals grew by 3.46 percent year-on-year as of Oct. 6, while visitor numbers from January to August rose by 0.8 percent to 4.42 million.
The DOT is seeking to expand visa-free entry for Chinese tourists to more Philippine airports to boost travel and open additional flight routes.
Chinese arrivals nearly doubled to 303,567 in the first eight months of the year from 156,926 during the same period last year.
The United States remained the Philippines’ top source of foreign visitors, followed by South Korea and Japan, although arrivals from the latter two countries declined year-on-year.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 12, 2026
