overseas travel – Author Carlo Carrasco

Japan’s Narita International Airport Plans to Combine Three Terminals

November 7, 2026November 4, 2026carlocarrasco

Narita International Airport (NRT), the primary international gateway of Japan, could make flight connections and the travel experience better once its plan of combining the three terminals pushes through, according to a news report by VnExpress pointing to the Japanese media.

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

The operator of Japan’s Narita International Airport seeks to make travel easier for passengers and improve the airport’s position as a regional hub, according to local media.

Since opening in 1978, Narita has added new terminals regularly over the years. But this makes it inconvenient for transfer passengers, who often have to take shuttle buses between the various terminals.

To solve this problem, the airport operator plans to merge the three terminals into one, making connections easier.

According to The Mainichi newspaper, the operator first presented the single-terminal concept in September 2022 at a meeting with the governor of Chiba Prefecture. More proposals were unveiled at a meeting in Tokyo on July 6, 2026.

They included closing the current Narita Airport train station at Terminal 1 and building a new one under the terminal to be built south of Terminal 2.

The plan also includes adding about 30 new parking spots with jet bridges, bringing the total to around 100. Customs and passenger processing will gradually move into this central structure.

The airport’s total floor area will increase from 970,000 square meters to about 1.1 million square meters.

The airport also plans to build a new 3,500-meter third runway and extend runway B by 1,000 meters to 3,500 meters by March 2029.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? If you have entered Japan through the Narita International Airport over the past twelve months, how was your personal travel experience? Do you think the BRT operator’s plan to combine Narita’s three terminals into one makes a lot of sense? Do you think the plan will somehow help Japan attract even more tourists from around the world while ensuring border security?

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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Thailand Considering Visa Waivers for Travelers from Few Specific Nations

November 2, 2026October 28, 2026carlocarrasco

With their struggling tourism industry and long-haul tourism in mind, Thailand is considering a 15-day visa exemption for travelers from a few specific nations, according to a news article by VnExpress.

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

Thailand is considering a 15-day visa exemption for travelers from Colombia, Mexico and Uzbekistan to ease visa processing delays and attract more long-haul visitors.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports will submit a proposal to the visa policy committee on Nov. 9, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said on Monday, as reported by The Nation Thailand.

The proposal comes amid growing concerns that visa-processing delays are disrupting Thailand’s long-haul tourism market, particularly travel from Latin America, with passenger show-up rates on some flights falling by 20% to 30%, Khaosod English news site reported.

Emirates recently filed a complaint with the Tourism Authority of Thailand after 20-30 passengers per flight from Mexico failed to show up because they had not received their visas in time, local media reported.

Surasak said the ministry was seeking a long-term solution to persistent visa delays affecting Mexico and other Latin American markets. The committee will assess the proposal’s security and economic implications, with the ministry seeking exemptions for countries considered to pose low security risks.

Chiravadee Khunsub, deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand overseeing international markets in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa, said visa procedures had also affected arrivals from Uzbekistan, Thai Examiner reported.

Uzbek travelers previously had to apply for Thai e-visas through the Royal Thai Embassy in Russia, a process that travel agents in Uzbekistan considered cumbersome.

Some travelers subsequently canceled their Thailand holiday packages and chose competing destinations, including Vietnam.

The proposed exemption aims to simplify entry procedures, reduce disruptions to travel plans and restore confidence among international tour operators and airline partners.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Thailand’s move to grant visa exemptions to travelers from Colombia, Mexico and Uzbekistan makes a lot of sense? Do you think Thailand will be able to match its 2025 foreign tourist arrival numbers before the end of this year? What was single biggest problem you had when it came to visiting Thailand?

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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Japan Selected as World’s 2nd Most Favorite Country for Tourists

October 24, 2026October 17, 2026carlocarrasco

Japan, which attracted over 42 million foreign tourists in 2025, has been voted as the world’s 2^nd Most Favorite Country for tourists in Condé Nast Traveller’s prestigious list of the world’s twenty best countries, according to a news article by VnExpress.

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

Japan was named the world’s second most favorite country after Greece in British magazine Condé Nast Traveller’s list of the world’s 20 best countries, amid tourism declines and visa fee changes.

The Asian country received a score of 97.01 points out of 100, according to the annual Readers’ Choice Awards’ survey that asks travelers to rate countries on factors such as culture, attractions, cuisine, and overall experience.

“A tourism boom is bringing more visitors to experience its celebrated food scene, soothing onsens, seasonal cherry blossoms and high-speed trains that glide through some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes. Yet even in a country steeped in heritage, there is always something new to discover, from futuristic attractions to fresh cultural experiences,” the magazine wrote.

Japan welcomed more than 27 million foreign visitors in the first eight months of 2026, down 2.7% from the same period last year, amid a steep decline from Chinese tourists, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

The Japanese government raised the single-entry visa fee for foreign nationals fivefold, from 3,000 to 15,000 yen, marking the first increase since 1978 amid inflation and a weaker yen, Kyodo News reported.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? When it comes to world travel, is Condé Nast Traveller your main reference for information and updates? If you were able to visit Japan over the past twelve months, how was your trip? Did you visit many cultural sites in Japan?

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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HCMC Transforms into Vietnam’s Shopping Hotspot

October 20, 2026October 18, 2026carlocarrasco

When it comes to touring Southeast Asia, which particularly city do you think is ideal for shopping? In recent times, a booming fashion scene backed with strong social media exposure and promotions is turning Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam as a major shopping hotspot and the shopping craze there is only intensifying, according to an article by VnExpress.

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

Ho Chi Minh City is quickly becoming a shopping hotspot, thanks to a booming fashion scene that has been promoted widely on TikTok and Instagram as both affordable and accessible.

Chloe, a 22-year-old traveler from Australia, arrived on Tran Quang Dieu Street at the end of September with an empty suitcase and spent nearly US$800 in a single afternoon on clothes.

She planned to stay in Vietnam for a few weeks before returning home, saying: “I was inspired by a TikToker who came here with an empty suitcase just to fill it by shopping here.”

“The clothing quality is incredible, and everything is so cheap it feels surreal. It is like paradise for me.”

Recently, Ho Chi Minh City earned a spot among the 50 most attractive shopping destinations globally in a ranking by Travel and Tour World, a leading Indian travel publication.

The city is an ideal destination for travelers seeking handcrafted goods, textiles, and Vietnamese-style fashion, the report said.

Chloe is far from the only tourist visiting just for shopping.

Jasmine, a 26-year-old from Malaysia, says she travels to Vietnam specifically to buy clothes worn by her favorite idols.

“I am a huge K-pop fan, and I think Vietnamese clothing not only makes it easy to connect with my idols, but walking the fashion streets here also makes me feel amazing.”

She says she discovers brands and shopping locations primarily through Instagram, adding, “Every time I try on something here, I know I can afford it.”

Tina Yong, a prominent content creator with nearly four million followers, whose viral “Vietnam Haul” videos have helped put the local scene on the global map, points out that the appeal lies in discovery.

“People love discovering a brand they haven’t seen everywhere already.

“The designs are what catch my eye first, but the quality is what makes me go back.”

Other visitors echo this sentiment.

A visitor from Singapore says Vietnamese clothing craftsmanship is remarkable. She says she can buy about 10 times as many trendy items in Ho Chi Minh City, and for a fraction of the cost back home.

According to U.K. magazine Conde Nast Traveller, Vietnamese retail stands out for its high-quality craftsmanship and use of the same production lines as global brands like Nike and GAP at a cost that is a fraction of western retail prices.

The rise in foreign shopper numbers has changed how local boutique owners run their stores.

Nguyen Huu Hoang, 22, consultant for a shop on Le Van Sy, a famous retail street in HCMC, says foreigners make up 80-90% of his shop’s clientele, most of them walk-in customers.

To reach them, his brands focus on Instagram, posting regular “fit-check” videos to turn online views into real store visits.

For added insight about shopping in HCMC, watch the video below.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Ho Chi Minh City’s strong appeal as a major fashion and shopping hot spot will last for several years and contribute a lot to the economy of Vietnam? Do you personally know anyone who visited Vietnam mainly for shopping? Do you think there are lots of people who are too influenced by social media to come to go overseas with shopping in mind?

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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Philippines Targets 6.4 Million International Tourist Arrivals this Year

October 19, 2026October 12, 2026carlocarrasco

The Philippines, which has been enduring economic weakness and high inflation for much of 2026, is targeting 6.4 million international visitor arrivals this year, according a news report by the Manila Bulletin.

To put things in perspective, international tourists/visitors is a reference to both foreign tourists and overseas Filipinos who arrived in the country. In 2025, the Philippines attracted 5.94 million foreign tourists and 543,000 overseas Filipinos which combine for a grand total of 6.48 million international tourists/visitors. That said, the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) target for 2026 technically the same when compared to what was achieved in 2025.

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

The Philippines expects tourist arrivals to remain flat at around 6.4 million this year amid more muted travel demand due to the ongoing fuel crisis, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay told reporters last week that the DOT expects international visitor arrivals to remain relatively unchanged from the 6.48 million recorded last year.

“6.4 [million] is our target because I was really super anxious about the fuel crisis and the accompanying higher airline fees, as well as the lower sentiment for traveling,” Angara-Mathay said.

Even against this backdrop, Angara-Mathay said tourist arrivals remain relatively strong, having posted 3.46-percent year-on-year growth as of Oct. 6.

The latest official DOT data showed that visitor arrivals from January to August inched up by 0.8 percent to 4.42 million from 4.38 million in the same period last year.

“I was afraid that it would go down, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think we’ll be able to match [last year],” Angara-Mathay said.

Given the expected boost in arrivals during the holiday season, the DOT still sees room for growth this year, especially if the government approves its proposed expansion of the visa-free scheme for Chinese tourists.

The DOT is pushing to expand visa-free coverage for Chinese nationals to other gateways in hopes of opening more flights between the Philippines and China beyond Manila and Cebu.

Chinese tourists are currently allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for stays of up to 14 days, provided they arrive through either Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) or Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).

The current arrangement has already resulted in a surge in Chinese visitors this year, with arrivals nearly doubling to 303,567 as of end-August from 156,926 a year ago.

“There is a direct correlation with taking out that friction of the visa with [increased] travel. So hopefully, everyone’s on board, unfortunately one more agency needs to be convinced,” said Angara-Mathay.

While she did not identify the agency opposing the visa-free expansion, the DOT chief emphasized that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) are fully on board.

The DFA authorized visa-free entry for Chinese nationals earlier this year, while BI issued the implementing guidelines.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the tourism industry of the Philippines has what it takes to attract more than enough foreign tourists and returning overseas Filipinos to exceed the DOT’s 2026 target? Do you feel uncomfortable about the Philippine government’s effort to expand visa-free coverage for Chinese nationals to other gateways? Do you prefer to see the authorities focus more on attracting more travelers from Southeast Asia and Europe? What do you think are the three biggest problems of the tourism industry of the Philippines 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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Fewer Korean Visitors Arriving in Vietnam

October 17, 2026October 17, 2026carlocarrasco

With almost eighteen million foreign tourists counted during the January-September period of this year, Vietnam is on-track to exceed its 2025 record of foreign tourist arrivals. While tourism is indeed booming, there are observations that fewer travelers from South Korea are visiting Vietnam, and there are a lot of factors as to why this has been happening for some time now, according to a news article by VnExpress.

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

Korean arrivals to Vietnam have fallen for two years amid a weaker won, fewer flights and growing competition.

Vietnam welcomed 17.7 million international visitors in the first nine months, up almost 15% year-on-year, the General Statistics Office reported. South Korea ranked second, after mainland China, with 3 million arrivals, but was the only top-10 market to record a decline, down about 5%.

Korean arrivals also fell 5% in 2025, when total arrivals hit a record of more than 21 million.

South Koreans made over 19 million overseas trips in the first eight months, up 2%, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.

Martin Koerner, commercial director of Anam Group, which manages two resorts in Mui Ne and Cam Ranh, says Korean demand is still growing but shifting elsewhere.

Yanolja Research found that only three of the 12 most-visited destinations for Koreans grew in the first half. Japan rose 18.6% to 5.6 million visits, 40% of Korean outbound travelers. Mainland China rose 16%, while Macau grew 0.7%.

The other nine destinations, mostly in Southeast Asia and the U.S., all declined. Vietnam fell more than 2%, and Thailand dropped the most, at 24%.

Pham Hai Quynh, director of the Asia Tourism Development Institute, attributes the decline partly to growing competition from China and Japan.

Quynh says Japan offers a good exchange rate, easy transport and quality service. China has attractive tour prices, visa-free entry for Koreans since late 2025 and more direct flights.

A weak won is a factor. The currency fell to 1,536 won per U.S. dollar on June 3, its lowest since 2009, and now sits around 1,350.

Korea JoongAng Daily reports that the weak currency is changing how South Koreans travel. They are shopping less, opting for Airbnb-style rentals over luxury hotels.

Hanatour, one of South Korea’s largest travel companies, says Korean travelers used to favor cheap tours with shopping stops. Now they choose pricier packages without shopping to cut down on extra spending.

However, travel spending in Japan continues to rise, as the weak yen makes the destination more affordable. In 2025, South Korean visitors spent a record $5.7 billion in Japan.

Koerner adds that beyond cost, the convenience of the trip also shapes Korean choices. A flight of two to three hours to Japan or China beats a six-hour trip to Southeast Asia.

“In this context, Vietnam’s edge as a low-cost destination no longer creates a big enough gap to hold on to Korean visitors,” Quynh says.

Saturation is another problem. Quynh says a destination’s life cycle lasts three to four years, after which travelers seek something new. Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc have been promoted in Korea since around 2023, and golf and spa packages have grown familiar.

Fewer flights have hurt too. Higher fuel prices from the Middle East conflict led Korean airlines, mainly low-cost carriers, to cut 1,000 flights between April and June.

Yanolja Research also says Vietnam’s image has been linked to Cambodian scam compounds. Negative sentiment toward Vietnam once reached 18%.

To win Koreans back, Quynh says Vietnam should refresh its image, rely less on cheap beach holidays, and develop cultural, ecological and wellness products. He also urges more promotion in Busan, Daegu and Gwangju cities.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the falling number of Korean travelers visiting Vietnam is growing into a serious problem for the Vietnamese tourism industry? What do you think Vietnam and South Korea should do when it comes to flight connectivity and visa matters?

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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Vietnam Attracts 522,000 Visitors from the Philippines During First 9 Months of 2026

October 10, 2026October 3, 2026carlocarrasco

The Philippines, which is currently the host of the ASEAN Summit and is also one of the economic weaklings of Southeast Asia, continues to grow tremendously as a tourism market for Vietnam as an estimated 522,000 Filipinos visited the said nation during the first nine months of 2026, according to a news report by VnExpress.

It should be noted that more than 480,000 Filipinos visited Vietnam for the entire year of 2025, and the Philippines is one of the fastest growing tourism markets for the Vietnam tourism industry this year along with Russia.

Historically speaking, the number of Philippine visitors welcomed by Vietnam was 49,266 in 2022, 153,168 in 2023, 265,947 in 2024 and 482,173 in 2025. At 522,000 as of the end of September, the number of Philippine visitors arriving in Vietnam could reach around 700,000 by the end of this year.

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

Vietnam welcomed 17.7 million international visitors in the first nine months of 2026, up 14.5% year-on-year, bucking a decline in arrivals across several Southeast Asian destinations.

Mainland China remained Vietnam’s largest source market, with 3.95 million visitors, accounting for about 22.3% of the total. South Korea ranked second with approximately 3.05 million visitors, or 17.3%.

Russia ranked third with 1.1 million, followed by Taiwan (964,000) and the U.S. (746,000), according to the General Statistics Office.

The rest of the top 10 were Cambodia (688,000), Japan (674,000), India (670,000), the Philippines (522,000) and Australia (485,000).

In September, foreign visitors declined by 11.3% from August but rose by 16.5% year-on-year to 1.77 million.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Considering the strong interest of Filipinos to visit Vietnam, do you think it is possible for Vietnam to attract at least one million visitors from the Philippines next year if not this year? Do you think more Filipinos will realize the great value they could get by visiting Vietnam?

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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Vietnam Attracts 17.7 Million Foreign Tourists in First 9 Months of 2026

October 5, 2026October 3, 2026carlocarrasco

Vietnam successfully attracted 17.7 million foreign tourists during the first nine months of 2026 having China, South Korea and Russia as their top 3 tourist markets, according to a news report by VnExpress. As it currently stands, Vietnam saw its foreign tourist count rise by 14.5% compared to the year before and it is looking more likely for the nation to exceed its 2025 overall foreign tourist count of 21.2 million by the end of this year.

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

Vietnam welcomed 17.7 million international visitors in the first nine months of 2026, up 14.5% year-on-year, bucking a decline in arrivals across several Southeast Asian destinations.

Mainland China remained Vietnam’s largest source market, with 3.95 million visitors, accounting for about 22.3% of the total. South Korea ranked second with approximately 3.05 million visitors, or 17.3%.

Russia ranked third with 1.1 million, followed by Taiwan (964,000) and the U.S. (746,000), according to the General Statistics Office.

The rest of the top 10 were Cambodia (688,000), Japan (674,000), India (670,000), the Philippines (522,000) and Australia (485,000).

In September, foreign visitors declined by 11.3% from August but rose by 16.5% year-on-year to 1.77 million.

Martin Koerner, commercial director of The Anam Group, a chain of luxury resort hotels in Vietnam, said what is particularly encouraging is Vietnam’s diversification of source markets.

European arrivals increased by more than 50%, while arrivals from markets including the United States, Australia and India also recorded strong growth. This makes Vietnam less dependent on only one or two major Asian source markets, he added.

“Vietnam is no longer seen simply as an inexpensive holiday destination. Increasingly, it is being

recognized as a destination capable of delivering sophisticated, world-class hospitality,” Koerner said.

Several Southeast Asian countries have faced declines in international arrivals amid the impact of the Middle East crisis.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Have you visited Singapore over the past twelve months? Do you think Singapore can keep innovating and improving itself on tourism development? Do you know anyone who visited Vietnam recently and mentioned positive things about their tour? How interested are you right now to visit Vietnam?

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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Philippines 2026 Foreign Tourist Arrivals Reach 4.11 Million as of August, U.S. and South Korea Remain Top Markets

September 3, 2026September 2, 2026carlocarrasco

With the Peso performing terribly in the global currency market, weakening economic growth, high inflation and fears of an economic recession growing, 2026 has not been good for the Philippines. There is a bright spot in tourism, however, as the Philippines saw its 2026 foreign tourist arrivals reach 4.11 million in the January-August period and the United States and South Korea combined for more than 1.5 million tourist arrivals, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

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

The Philippines has recorded 4.11 million foreign arrivals from January to August, higher by 3.7 percent compared to the same period last year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Tuesday.

The United States posted the highest number of share at 818,318, followed by South Korea at 727,379, Japan at 350,191, China at 310,088, and Australia at 234,156.

Also making it in the top 10 source markets are Canada with 231,972, Taiwan with 154,957, the United Kingdom with 132,370, Singapore with 126,812, and India with 77,883.

Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the Philippines targets to surpass its 2025 arrival figures to reach between 6.4 million and 6.8 million, or at least 7 million, by the end of 2026.

To achieve this, she said the DOT is intensifying its branding and promotions to reach more tourists in its key source markets.

The DOT is also in active talks with airlines to open up and establish more chartered flights between the Philippines and secondary cities of Korea and China.

DOT Assistant Secretary Ren Sapitan said the agency is also set to sign a contract with a creative agency in November to broaden the country’s marketing efforts and make the Philippines more visible worldwide.

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 exceed the 2025 foreign tourist arrivals number by the end of this year? Do you think the DOT is doing a good job to strengthen the Philippines’ attraction of foreign tourists? Considering the Top 10 markets of foreign tourists the Philippines attracted so far, are you convinced that the nation’s hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit did not create any positive tourism results?

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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Philippines Attracts 2.9 Million Foreign Tourists In First Half Of 2026

July 25, 2026July 22, 2026carlocarrasco

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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