Tag: Department of Tourism (DOT)

I Love Israel: Israel Seeks More Visitors From Southeast Asia

I Love Israel: Israel Seeks More Visitors From Southeast Asia

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In a serious attempt to attract more travelers from Southeast Asia, the tourism ministry of Israel enhanced the existing ties with travel agencies in the Philippines and Singapore, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface.

Israel’s Ministry of Tourism is seeking to attract more travelers from Southeast Asia by strengthening ties with travel agencies in the Philippines and Singapore, as it promotes the country’s destinations and assures visitors of safety.

The ministry recently hosted a seven-day familiarization tour for travel agents from both countries, showcasing Israel’s religious, historical, adventure and leisure attractions as part of its campaign to expand arrivals from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.

The itinerary included visits to Jerusalem, Dead Sea and Tel Aviv, as well as a jeep tour through the Judean Desert and a wine tour in the Golan Heights.

Hassan Madah, international director of the Israel Ministry of Tourism in Jerusalem, said the country remains open to international visitors.

“We welcome you all. Israel is open to everyone, and travelers can be assured that our country is safe to visit,” Madah said.

He said the ministry hopes to welcome more visitors from the Philippines and Singapore, citing the country’s religious sites, historic cities, deserts and beaches as key attractions.

The ministry identified the Philippines as one of its priority markets in Asia, alongside India, China and South Korea, with growth driven largely by faith-based travel.

Singapore, meanwhile, is considered a strategic market because of its position as a regional aviation and travel hub.

The tourism ministry said it has been strengthening partnerships with Southeast Asian travel industry stakeholders through regional events, including ITB Asia in Singapore.

Despite the lack of direct flights between the Philippines and Israel, Filipino arrivals have remained steady, according to the ministry.

The Department of Tourism and the Israel Ministry of Tourism have signed a joint declaration of intent to promote two-way tourism and are engaged in discussions with airlines on improving connectivity.

Israel Ministry of Tourism Philippines Marketing Manager Anna Oraiza Aban said visa-free travel access for Philippine and Singaporean passport holders makes visits to Israel more convenient.

To all my readers, I encourage you to thank the Lord for this breakthrough of cooperation between Israel and both the Philippines and Singapore as the Jewish state seeks more visitors from Southeast Asia.  

As such, I encourage you all to pray to the Lord for this breakthrough to lead to more breakthroughs in terms of improved travel, more connections between Israel and Southeast Asia, and more opportunities for Southeast Asian people to visit the Holy Land and realize the legacy of God, Lord Jesus and the Jewish people.

At the same time, I encourage you all to realize the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!

I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

If you truly believe in Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly and you continue to be faithful, you should be aware that Christians are meant to stand united with Israel and love the Jewish people no matter what. You can do your part supporting Israel by donating to Christians United for Israel (CUFI). Do not forget to read the Holy Bible, then pray in tongues to the Lord in the privacy of your room with the door shut.

Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Philippines Attracts 2.9 Million Foreign Tourists In First Half Of 2026

Philippines Attracts 2.9 Million Foreign Tourists In First Half Of 2026

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For the first half of this year, the Philippines attracted 2.9 million foreign tourists and 1.13 million of that came from the United States and South Korea combined, according to a news report by Business Mirror. The figure does not include the 260,717 overseas Filipinos or balikbayan.

When compared to its Asian neighbors’ first-half foreign tourist numbers, the Philippines is still way behind Vietnam which attracted 12.3 million and Japan which attracted 21 million.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Business Mirror report. Some parts in boldface…

MORE relaxed visa entry requirements have enabled the Philippines to attract an increasing number of foreign tourists, lifting total visitor arrivals by 5.41 percent in the first half of the year.

Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed 3.16 million inbound tourists from January to June 2026, of which 2.9 million were foreign nationals and 260,717 were overseas Filipinos. The latter are described as Philippine passport holders permanently residing abroad. This year’s arrivals are 76.5 percent of the 4.13 million total in the first half of prepandemic 2019.

The DOT stressed that the data are based on e-travel records provided by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and are not final until Bureau of Immigration records are taken into account. E-travel registration is mandatory for those arriving in the Philippines except foreign diplomats, dignitaries, foreign government officials and their delegation, visiting business executives and students  sponsored by the Philippine  government or international organizations, and their immediate family members (9e visa).

Of the total foreign nationals, which were up 6.3 percent from the 2.73 million year on year (yoy), tourists from China and India were the most improved by 64.54 percent and 43 percent, respectively. Residents from both countries have been allowed to enter the Philippines visa-free for tourism purposes for 14 days.

The top 12 source markets of visitors for the Philippines all recorded increases, except for South Korea, with long-haul markets like Germany even showing monthly increases yoy, despite the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, which had jacked up jet fuel prices.

S. Korea plunges 13.7% – The United States continues to be the top source market for the Philippines with arrivals at 581,565 in the first half of the year, an increase of some 6.9 percent from the same period in 2025. Most of the market continues to be composed of Americans of Filipino decent, or Filipino immigrants, who visit the Philippines usually during the holiday season in December and January.

Some 300 Filipino-Americans are currently in the country as part of government’s long-running Very Important Pinoy (VIP) tour, and visiting destinations other than Metro Manila such as Cebu, Dumaguete, and Siquijor.

In second place are tourists from South Korea at 552,860, slumping by 13.7 percent, yoy. This was followed by Japan at 581,565 (+6.87 percent); China at 219,796 (+64.54 percent); Australia at 174,257 (+12.3 percent); and Canada at 156,763 (+15.6 percent), another haven of Filipino immigrants. Air Canada began offering direct flights from Vancouver to Manila in April last year, while flag carrier Philippine Airlines offers nonstop flights between Manila and Vancouver, and Toronto.

Tourists from Taiwan were in seventh place at 111,134, an increase of 11.85 percent; folowed by the United Kingdom at 92,829 (+1.7 percent); Singapore at 78,069 (0.35 percent); India at 60,583 (43.03 percent); Malaysia at 53,437 (+11.5 percent); and Germany at 48,657 (+6.9 percent).

Under the General Appropriations Act of 2026, the DOT committed to attract 6.7 million foreign tourists this year.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines will be able to attract 6.7 million foreign tourists by the end of this year? What do you think are the three most serious problems the Philippines has when it comes to attracting foreign tourists?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Philippines Supreme Court Upholds Law Granting VAT Refund To Foreign Tourists

Philippines Supreme Court Upholds Law Granting VAT Refund To Foreign Tourists

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Remember the law granting value-added tax refund (VAT refund) to foreign tourists signed a few years ago? That law was challenged and recently the Supreme Court of the Philippines upheld the constitutionality of Republic Act 12079 (the act creating a VAT refund mechanism for non-resident tourists), according to a news report by GMA News.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…

The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the constitutionality of a law that grants value-added tax (VAT) refunds on select local purchases by non-resident foreign tourists.

In a 30-page decision, the SC En Banc dismissed a petition challenging the validity of Republic Act 12079, or an act creating a VAT refund mechanism for non-resident tourists, adding Section 112-A to the National Internal Revenue Code.

“Granting VAT refund to foreign tourists was not arbitrarily done. It is a policy decision based on legitimate state interests, i.e. the need to remain competitive as a global tourist destination,” the SC said.

“In fine, foreign tourists may be granted privileges and benefits that are not extended to Filipino citizens, so as long as these distinctions are based on reasonable and justifiable classifications, as in here,” it added.

According to the SC, the VAT refund applies to goods brought from duly accredited stores and taken out of the country within 60 days from purchase. The goods must be priced at least P3,000 per transaction.

Meanwhile, the SC said Section 5 of the law’s implementing rules and regulations limit the refund to retail and tangible goods, including clothing, apparel, electronics, gadgets, jewelry, accessories, souvenirs, food or non-food consumables, and other items intended for personal use.

The petitioner, however, argued that the law violates the constitutional guarantee of equal protection as it excludes Filipino citizens.

For its part, the SC said equal protection does not require identical treatment for all persons.

It said the act also distinguishes foreign tourists from Filipino citizens.

According to the SC, the VAT refund system follows the basic rule of VAT that goods are taxed where they are consumed. If the goods are consumed in the Philippines, they remain subject to Philippine VAT.

Meanwhile, the SC added that VAT refund for foreign tourists is a well-established international practice.

“The Philippines is among the last few countries in Asia to adopt such a system. Our Asian neighbors, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Japan have long implemented this VAT refund mechanism for foreign tourists,” it said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you agree with the Supreme Court’s decision on the law about VAT refund for foreign tourists? Apart from the VAT refund for foreign tourists, what problems that plagued the Philippine tourism industry should the government solve this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

New Philippines Domestic Tourism Program Launched With Over 3,000 Travel Deals

New Philippines Domestic Tourism Program Launched With Over 3,000 Travel Deals

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In what is clearly a serious attempt by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to boost domestic tourism a lot, the new program Discover More To Love was recently launched with more than three thousand travel deals from varied hotels, tour operators and airlines, according to a news report by the Manila Standard.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of the Manila Standard. Some parts in boldface…

The Department of Tourism (DOT) launched a new campaign offering more than 3,000 travel deals from hotels, tour operators, and airlines to boost domestic travel during off-peak months and support local businesses.

The campaign, named “Discover More to Love,” runs from July to November 2026 to stimulate year-round travel, sustain bookings, preserve jobs, and strengthen local economies during the industry’s traditional lean period.

The initiative serves as an extension of the country’s official tourism brand, “Love the Philippines,” rather than a replacement.

Travelers can access discounts of up to 70 percent from more than 70 hotels and resorts through the Hotels Sales and Marketing Association. The campaign also features more than 250 nationwide travel packages alongside discounted fares from carriers Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, AirAsia Philippines, and Sunlight Air.

Online platforms AirAsia MOVE and Klook are providing exclusive deals, while Mastercard offers special payment privileges for cardholders. Travelers can access the promotional room packages, staycation deals, dining credits, and flexible booking options directly through the department’s enhanced website at http://www.tourism.gov.ph.

Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the agency wants to evolve the initiative through feedback from travelers and industry partners.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you support the DOT’s renewed focus on domestic tourism?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

American Investors To Explore Mega Infrastructure, Energy Deals And Other Opportunities In The Philippines

American Investors To Explore Mega Infrastructure, Energy Deals And Other Opportunities In The Philippines

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Several business executives and investors from the United States are set to visit the Philippines next week to explore investment opportunities in the nation’s infrastructure sector, energy sector, and more, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin. The American investors will engage with their Filipino counterparts during the planned 5-day trade mission.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

More than 25 American business executives and investors will visit the country next week for a business mission as the United States (US) seeks to deepen its economic ties with the Philippines, which recently secured upper-middle-income status.

In a statement, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the US business delegation would mount a five-day trade mission across major economic areas in the Philippines from July 6 to 10.

The delegation includes business leaders and investors from the Northeast and Midwest regions of the US. The mission is organized by the DTI’s Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in New York and the Philippine Consulates General in New York and Chicago.

The DTI said the business mission aims to strengthen economic ties between the two longtime trade partners while also encouraging US companies to invest more in the country’s growing economy.

Based on the latest country income classifications of the World Bank, the Philippines has moved up from lower-middle-income to upper-middle-income status. This was based on the country’s gross national income (GNI) per capita estimate for 2025, which reached a record $4,850.

The DTI noted that the upcoming visit also comes at a time when the Philippines is actively positioning itself as a key partner for US companies looking to expand in Asia.

During the business mission, the US delegation will meet with Philippine government leaders and local business owners to explore business, tourism, and investment opportunities.

The US business leaders will also attend business meetings, informational briefings, and tours of key economic areas in Manila, Clark, Subic, and Corregidor.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you see a promising future between the United States and the Philippines when it comes to economics and investment under the leadership of US President Donald Trump? Are you convinced the corruption within the Philippines is no longer a turn-off for American investors?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

New Campaign To Boost Domestic Tourism In The Philippines

New Campaign To Boost Domestic Tourism In The Philippines

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In a serious attempt to boost domestic tourism in the Philippines, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has a new campaign titled “Discover More to Love”, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

This new move by the DOT makes sense since it is very difficult for the nation to attract foreign tourists. The DOT admitted that Vietnam and other destinations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are more affordable for foreign travelers.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is leading a new campaign called “Discover More to Love” to boost domestic travel within the Philippines.

Among its major features is the introduction of curated and discounted travel-related packages by local tourism stakeholders, including several hotels from across the country.

In an interview over the weekend, Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the campaign would not replace but instead complement the DOT’s primary tourism branding “Love the Philippines,” with the intention of allowing tourists to define their travel experience in their “own personal way.”

“(The thrust is) local muna pero hopefully, we will expand that to international (The thrust would be initially domestic, but hopefully, we will expand that internationally),” she said.

“The Filipinos love to travel, especially Gen Z and the others, it’s an adventure for them, and we want them to be sound board on what else we can do to improve.”

Domestic travel remains a strong driver of tourism in the Philippines. Last year alone, it generated at least PHP3.26 trillion in tourist spending, up by 3 percent from PHP3.16 trillion in 2024.

Beyond strengthening local travel, Angara-Mathay said the DOT is also stepping up efforts to recover the decrease in Korean travelers, while continuing to woo the rest of its top source markets.

She admitted that the competitive pricing in other Southeast Asian destinations is pulling in more Koreans, which traditionally has been the Philippines’ number one source market for foreign visitors.

“South Korea’s population is declining, but they’re travelers. Ngayon, ‘yong slot natin kinuha ng Vietnam, kinuha ng other ASEAN countries kasi kalahati lang ang kanilang cost to go there (Now, our slot has been taken by Vietnam and other ASEAN countries because it only costs half to go there),” she explained.

The DOT, for its part, she said, would continue engaging stakeholders to introduce and craft new “tour bundles” to make the cost of travel to the Philippines more affordable and “predictable.”

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the DOT’s new campaign will significant boost domestic tourism which itself has been thriving? Do you think it is possible for domestic tourism spending to reach P4 trillion this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

America Is Currently Top Market Of Foreign Visitors For The Philippines

America Is Currently Top Market Of Foreign Visitors For The Philippines

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It is not a secret that the Philippines has been having trouble attracting visitors from overseas. There was a tourism boom in Southeast Asia in 2025 and the Philippines fell way behind its neighbors (note: Vietnam attracted over 21 million visitors while Indonesia attracted over 15 million). When it comes to foreign tourists counted in 2025, the Philippines attracted 8,375 less compared to 2024.

In fairness, domestic tourism here in the Philippines is thriving as Filipinos and their families do have a strong appetite for local travel and holidays. On the aspect of foreign tourism with statistics counted as of June 16 this year, the United States has emerged as the top market for the country, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippines has welcomed 2.9 million foreign visitors from January 1 to June 16, 2026, led by those from the United States, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said.

Preliminary figures released Thursday showed tourists from the U.S. reached 591,569 out of the country’s total inbound arrival of 2,955,014 during the period.

The DOT has yet to provide the full breakdown of top visitor arrivals, but said the U.S. “has now become our number one source market,” and it expects the figures to further grow.

At the general membership meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) on June 17, Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the DOT will intensify its push for more tourism and investment partnerships with the U.S.

“We no longer see tourism simply as promotion. We see it as a platform for long-term investment,” she said, citing as example the USD3.4 billion in investments, pipeline opportunities, and financial support the Philippines secured during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s recent state visit to Japan.

“This is the direction we are pursuing — tourism as a connector sector that brings together aviation, infrastructure, healthcare, and regional development.”

The DOT, she said, will also work closely with relevant government agencies to improve and expand air connectivity across the country.

“To make this more systematic, we will convene regular airline and airport connectivity discussions with carriers, airports, stakeholders, and government agencies. The goal is simple: solve bottlenecks together and turn plans into actual flights,” she added.

At the same time, Angara-Mathay said DOT would sustain efforts to develop the Philippines’ high-value tourism segments such as meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), gastronomy, wellness, education, and retirement tourism.

“Once people can get here more easily, the next question is what kind of experience we offer them. And that brings me to high-value tourism. Our goal is not simply to bring in more visitors, but to make every visit more meaningful, longer stays, higher spending, and deeper engagement with our destinations and communities,” she said.

To put things in perspective, 2,955,014 foreign visitors attracted in the first 167 days of 2026 is equivalent to an average of 17,694.69 per day. At that rate, the Philippines could attract more than 6.4 million this year and exceed the 2025 count. However, the DOT did not specify if the current count excludes Filipinos with foreign citizenship (or dual citizenship) based overseas.  

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you surprised that the United States overtook South Korea as the top market of foreign visitors to the Philippines? Under the new leadership of the DOT, do you feel confident that improvements on attracting foreign visitors will happen this year? What do you think the Philippines has when it comes to attracting American tourists?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Tourism’s Contribution To Philippines GDP The Lowest In 3 Years

Tourism’s Contribution To Philippines GDP The Lowest In 3 Years

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Given the fact that the Philippines has been having trouble attracting foreign tourists and their money, it has been confirmed that the tourism industry’s contribution to the national economy in 2025 fell down to a 3-year low, according to a news report by BusinessWorld. For insight, the Philippines attracted 5.94 million foreign tourists in 2025 while Indonesia attracted 15.39 million, Vietnam attracted a record-high 21.2 million and Thailand attracted almost 33 million.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…

THE TOURISM industry’s contribution to the Philippine economy fell to its lowest level in three years in 2025, weighed down by weaker tourism spending by foreign visitors, according to data from the statistics agency.

Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed tourism’s direct gross value added (TDGVA) accounted for 8.1% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025, down from 8.7% of GDP in 2024.

This was tourism’s lowest contribution to the national output in at least three years or since 2022 when it contributed 6.3% to the country’s GDP.

The country’s TDGVA was estimated at P2.27 trillion last year, down by 1.4% from the revised P2.3 trillion in 2024.

The TDGVA measures the value generated from various tourism-related activities and is based on the results of the Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts report, which the PSA compiles from the Department of Tourism.

Tourism Congress of the Philippines President James M. Montenegro said the drop reflected external pressures, structural constraints and a weaker recovery in international tourism relative to the rest of the Philippine economy.

“While domestic tourism remained resilient, inbound tourism weakened significantly in 2025, which pulled down overall tourism value creation,” Mr. Montenegro said in a Viber message.

He said a major factor was the slower-than-expected recovery of inbound tourism from key Asian markets such as China and India even after the Philippine government eased visa requirement for Chinese and Indian nationals.

Mr. Montenegro said another challenge is the Philippine tourism industry’s ability to remain competitive in attracting foreign tourists. He said the Philippines should prioritize making key destinations more accessible to major regional markets.

“Many neighboring countries accelerated aggressive tourism recovery programs, including visa-free access, expanded airline incentives, stronger destination marketing, and airport infrastructure improvements. The Philippines continued to face challenges in air connectivity, airport capacity, inter-island transport efficiency, and tourist friction points,” Mr. Montenegro said.

He said that while the Philippines’ tourism sector has one of the highest contributions to GDP in Southeast Asia, it continues to lag behind regional peers in attracting tourists.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you surprised that the Philippines remained weak on attracting foreign tourists even though some reforms were implemented? Do you think the local tourism authorities should focus more on domestic tourism which itself remains strong and growing? What are the biggest hassles that tourists experience here in the Philippines when it comes to traveling by air, sea and land today?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Japanese Business Leaders Pledge $3.4 Billion Worth Of Investments For The Philippines

Japanese Business Leaders Pledge $3.4 Billion Worth Of Investments For The Philippines

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The Philippines, which is already struggling with weak economic growth, high fuel prices and rapid inflation, got a boost thanks to Japanese business leaders who pledged investments worth $3.4 billion for the country, according to a news report by GMA News.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday secured stronger commitments for deeper economic integration during a high-level roundtable meeting with top Japanese business executives at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo.

In his meeting with leaders of Japan’s largest conglomerates and financial institutions, Marcos bagged an aggregate investment commitment of $3.4 billion (approximately P210 billion) from participating Japanese corporations.

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said these combined capital inflows are “projected to catalyze substantive macroeconomic benefits, expanding domestic industrial capacity and directly generating thousands of high-quality, specialized jobs for Filipinos.”

The PCO added that the infusion “underscores the resilience of the Philippine market, promising long-term economic dividends by fortifying local supply chains, upgrading tourism infrastructure, and accelerating technology transfers across critical growth sectors.”

The President is in Tokyo for a four-day state visit upon the invitation of the Japanese government.

In his remarks, Marcos said a robust Philippine-Japan economic corridor is critical and that laying the groundwork for an enhanced, unified partnership is essential to navigate global difficulties, build resilience, and sustain momentum.

“As we mark 70 years of the normalization of our diplomatic relations, we are no longer simply commemorating history. We are entering a new chapter – a chapter defined not only by friendship, but by deeper integration, shared growth, and a common belief in the future,” the President told the leaders of Japan’s largest conglomerates and financial institutions.

He outlined a unified government approach spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

“The Philippines is pursuing a clear national direction: building an economy where infrastructure, industry, finance, human capital, and connectivity move together as one system of growth,” Marcos said.

“Increasingly, we recognize that trade and tourism will be among the most important engines of that growth.”

He underscored the importance of stronger trade and tourism linkages, saying these are not supporting sectors but “core drivers of economic expansion in the Philippines moving forward.”

“This is a philosophy our two countries understand deeply,” the President said.

He also acknowledged the foundational contributions of several Japanese firms operating in the Philippines, such as All Nippon Airways, Toyota, Mitsubishi Corporation, Marubeni, Panasonic, and Fast Retailing.

He thanked these Japanese investors for their continued confidence in the Philippine economy and for helping create high-quality opportunities for Filipino workers and industries.

“You are no longer just investors in our economy. You are builders of it,” Marcos told the Japanese business leaders.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the $3.4 billion investment pledge by Japanese corporations will be a huge boost for the Philippines’ economy? Do you consider the ties of Japan and the Philippines healthy today?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

New Tourism Chief Says Philippines Counted 2.24 Million Foreign Visitor Arrivals As Of April 27

New Tourism Chief Says Philippines Counted 2.24 Million Foreign Visitor Arrivals As Of April 27

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New Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the Philippines counted a total of 2.24 million foreign visitor arrivals this year as of the 27th of April, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Tourism demand in the Philippines remains strong despite volatilities and challenges besetting the industry, Tourism chief Dita Angara-Mathay said Wednesday.

Speaking at the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) conference on tourism resilience in Makati City, Angara-Mathay said foreign visitor arrivals from January to April 27, reached 2.24 million, up nearly 9 percent year-on-year.

“What this tells us is simple: tourism demand is still strong-but more sensitive, more selective, and more dynamic,” she said.

Thus, Angara-Mathay said the DOT would make a “more active and deliberate role” in stakeholder coordination to further strengthen tourism in the Philippines.

She said the agency will also continue to position tourism resilience as an economic priority, given its close to 9 percent contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) and support for employment.

“My background in trade, investments, and industry development shapes my perspective. I see tourism not just as a sector, but as an ecosystem—one that depends on investment flows, supply chains, enterprise development, infrastructure, and market access,” she said.

“It requires inputs. It requires coordination. It requires investment. And it requires discipline in execution. This lens will guide our work,” she stressed.

Angara-Mathay said DOT’s strategic direction in the next coming years would be focused on connectivity, domestic tourism, destination readiness, investment, ease of entry, and priority markets, such as China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, North America, Australia, and Europe.

“Some of the challenges we face-particularly in infrastructure, connectivity, and investment-will take time. These are structural issues,” she said. “They require sustained effort and long-term commitment. So I ask for patience. But patience does not mean delay. We begin now.”

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the DOT will perform better and be more strategic under the new secretary Angara-Mathay? Are you convinced that the Philippines is indeed attracting more foreign tourists this year? Do you think the Philippines will be able to get out of its 2025 foreign tourist slump, attract more visitors from overseas and become more competitive with its Southeast Asian neighbors by the end of this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco