Philippines

Negros Occidental has been placed under a state of calamity to accelerate assistance to sugarcane plantations after being affected by red-striped soft scale insect and those areas damaged by Severe Tropical Storm Crising (international name: Wipha)

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is working to ensure the safety of tourists and tourism businesses as Storms Emong and Dante continue to bring bad weather conditions across the Philippines. The Tourism Secretary said over 1,000 tourists in Regions 8 and 10 were affected or stranded due to flight and ferry cancellations. No injuries or fatalities among tourists have been reported. The Intramuros Administration (IA) reported damages to Fort Santiago, Puerta Real Gardens, Baluarte San Diego and the ASEAN Garden from flooding and heavy rains. The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) will assist the IA to survey the affected areas. The DOT Regional Office in the CALABARZON region reported damage to infrastructure and tourism-related facilities in Montalban, Rizal. The disruptions are estimated to cause 2.8 million PHP losses. The DOT-4B Office reported damages to accommodation and travel agencies in El Nido at a value of 264,400 PHP, and tourist boats in Coron sustained damages worth 550,000 PHP. Additional revenue losses were reported due to cancelled tours. The Secretary instructed all DOT regional officers to closely coordinate with local government units (LGUs). The DOT announced that the Tourist Assistance Call Centre (TACC) remains fully operational to assist tourists and tourism-related businesses affected by the extreme weather. TACC is equipped with English, Korean, and Mandarin-speaking agents

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has closed a number of tourist sites and suspended tourism activities due to the monsoon rains and Severe Tropical Storm Emong (international name: Co-May). Areas affected include the National Capital Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and the Western Visayas. Other regions are monitoring alerts

The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the impeachment complaint against the VP Sara Duterte was unconstitutional and that any new complaints can only be initiated from 6 Feb 2026

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tropical Storm Emong is expected to intensify into a typhoon before making landfall over Ilocos Region on 24 Jul evening or on 25 Jul morning. PAGASA said Emong was spotted 245 km west of Bacnotan, La Union, with maximum sustained winds of 110kph near the centre and gusts of up to 135kph

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported 12 people died, 8 people were injured, and 8 others were missing due to southwest monsoon rains. The floods and landslides affected 765,869 families or 2,733,646 persons in a total of 3,712 barangays in 484 cities and towns

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) announced the gross gaming revenues (GGR) of integrated resort (IR) casinos reached 93.35 billion PHP in H1 2025, -5.85% YoY vs 99.16 billion PHP in GGR in H1 2024. PAGCOR CEO said the total GGG of the local gaming industry in H1 2025 was recorded at 215 billion PHP. He added that GGR of IR casinos makes up nearly half of the local gaming industry’s GGR. PAGCOR received 16 billion PHP from IR casinos as license fees

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) projects the Philippines' GDP growth to reach 5.6% in 2025, slowing from 5.7%, instead of expanding by 6% like previously projected. In 2026, the GDP is expected to rebound to 5.8%, lower than the 6.1% of the initial projection. ADB forecasts Southeast Asia to be the region recording the slowest growth at 4.2% in 2025 and 4.3% in 2026, a drop from earlier forecasts of 4.7%

Ilocos Region ordered the tourism operators to suspend tourism operations from 23 Jul following weather disturbances, which caused heavy rains, strong winds, flooding, and landslides in several locations. Several religious sites will remain open for the public. San Gabriel Town suspended all outdoor recreational activities since 21 Jul and closed the popular Tangadan Falls. San Juan has closed all water resorts since 24 Jul, including Urbiztondo Beach

The Philippines reached a trade agreement with the US after the Philippines' President met with the US President. The new tariff will be 19%, a drop from the initial 20%

The Provincial Administrator of Cebu said South Korean visitors to Cebu recorded -18% YoY in H1 2025. He said this drastic drop was never seen before, and this should be addressed as soon as possible. He said South Korean tourists’ preference to Vietnam over the Philippines has been cited as one of the possible reasons for the drop. He asked for a cashless payment system, improved cultural activities and tourism facilities, and training for tourism frontliners to attract more tourists. The Provincial Government plans to revive the Provincial Tourism Council on 30 Jul get get more insights on the tourism situation in the province

The South Korean Ambassador expressed concern over Korean tourists’ safety in the Philippines following a shooting incident in Angeles, Pampanga, on 20 Apr. He added that the unfortunate incidents involving Korean tourists are affecting tourism. Tourism industry players pointed out the drop in Korean arrivals in 2025, which has been the largest source of tourist arrivals in the Philippines for the past few years

The Quezon City and Manila Governments declared a state of calamity following heavy rainfall and flooding due to the southwest monsoon and other weather systems

The Department of Tourism will help the 1,409 tourists who are stranded due to transport operation disruptions from the tropical storm “Crising”. 1,373 tourists were stranded in Palawan, 34 in Batanes, and 2 in Occidental Mindoro following the suspension of sea travel and flight cancellations

The US assured the President of the Philippines that they will defend the country and increase military resources to deter China. There was a series of confrontations between China and the Philippines in the contested waters, which were entirely claimed by China, and the international ruling said the claim has no legal basis

The Director for Membership at the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association International, Inc. (HSMA) said the Philippines' hosting the ASEAN Summit and ASEAN Tourism Forum in 2026 will boost visitor traffic to important destinations such as Manila, Boracay, and Cebu. She also called for improvements in local infrastructure and services for the summit and for the industry in the medium term

The Department of Foreign Affairs has objected to a recent advisory by the Chinese Ministry of Education which warned students of security risks in the country, stating that it ”mischaracterises the situation”, whilst the Chinese Foreign Ministry on the same day warned of “rising safety risks" in the Philippines

A Senator authored a Senate Bill to abolish the travel tax. He called the tax “outdated” and a barrier to travel. The travel tax was introduced 50 years ago under a Presidential Decree. He said the Philippines might lose 4 billion PHP in revenue, but the country’s economy will gain 299 billion PHP through increased tourism and spending. He is also proposing to exempt ASEAN citizens from the travel tax

The President declared the Philippines’ population has reached 112,729,484 as of 1 Jul. The population recorded a 3.69 million growth vs 2020 levels of 109.04 million. The population growth slowed to 0.8% increase from 2020 to 2025, compared to 1.63% growth in 2015 to 2020. The slowdown was attributed to declining fertility and birth rates, an increase in mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic, and reduced migration activity

The President declared 7 Nov as Sheikh Karim’ul Makhdum Day to celebrate the establishment of the first mosque and introduction of Islam in the Philippines. The Philippines’ first mosque was built in Tawi-Tawi. The President also declared several lands in Albay, Guimaras and Quezon as natural parks and protected landscapes. Resource extraction will not be allowed in these protected areas

Mayors of Pagsanjan, Cavinti, and Lumban hosted a tourism and youth empowerment event to improve collaboration and promote inclusive economic growth through tourism. They expressed thanks to the Tourism Secretary for her support. Pagsanjan Mayor highlighted the importance of investing in infrastructure and services, and praised the Department of Tourism for their effort to revitalise heritage and natural sites across Calabarzon. Lumban Mayor presented her sustainable tourism plan with a focus on community-based tourism, which creates job opportunities, especially for the youth

The Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) will develop a manpower roadmap to identify the needs to expand the hospitality sector and address potential labour shortages due to migration and graduates abroad. PHOA’s Philippine Accommodation Pipeline Report 2024 shows 55,000 direct jobs are needed to support 158 accommodation projects, which are under development or in the planning

The World Travel Expo Central Visayas 2025 will be held from 15-17 Aug at Ayala Centre Cebu

BWH Hotels signed a new strategic agreement with Savers Group Holdings Inc. to speed up the expansion of its hotel and resort portfolio in the Philippines. Under the collaboration, new projects under 7 of BWH’s popular brands will be developed. The brands are Best Western Hotels & Resorts, Best Western Plus, BW Signature Collection, SureStay by Best Western, SureStay Plus by Best Western, SureStay Studio by Best Western, and SureStay Collection by Best Western. BWH Hotels currently operates 7 hotels and resorts in the Philippines in Angeles City, Cebu City, Clark, Panglao, Puerto Princesa, and Subic Bay

The Department of Tourism (DOT) called for transparency and accountability after HelloSafe took down a travel safety report which listed the Philippines as one of the least safe countries for travellers. The DOT Secretary sent a letter to HelloSafe's founder saying it was a “false and misleading article.” HelloSafe issued a formal apology on 15 Jul and its suspended the publication as of 20 Jun to conduct a full audit of the methodology and criteria used in its creation

The President approved a 6.793 trillion PHP national budget proposal for 2026. The budget is +7.4% YoY and the highest in history

The Department of Tourism (DOT) announced that tourism-related MSMEs can now apply for loans of up to 20 million PHP through the Turismo Asenso multipurpose loan program under the Small Business Corporation (SBCorp). DOT said this program will help tourism MSMEs access low-interest financing to help scale up operations and improve services for visitors. Tourism contributes 8.9% to the Philippines' GDP and provides jobs to 6.75 million Filipinos. Qualified applicants for the loan program can borrow up to 20 million PHP with an interest rate of 1% per month. For non-collateral loans, new borrowers may access up to 3 million PHP, and existing borrowers may qualify for loans up to 5 million PHP. The businesses applying for the loan must have at least 60% Filipino ownership of the business, a business track record not lower than 1 year, and average asset size not exceeding 100 million PHP, and without any past account dues in any of the programs of the SBCorp

The Philippines welcomed 444,528 Japanese visitors in 2024, +18% YoY, contributing 23.7 billion PHP to the local economy

The Cordillera office of the Department of Tourism (DOT-CAR) and its partners launched community-based farm tourism in Shilan, La Trinidad, Benguet. This project was launched through the DOT’s Tourism Development Planning in partnership with World Vision Korea and World Vision Philippines. The community-based farm tourism involves a coffee farm, an organic farm, and local beekeepers

The Philippines will negotiate with the US to lower tariffs after the US imposed a 20% duty on goods imported from the Philippines, higher than the previous 17%. In 2024, US goods trade with the Philippines reached $23.5 billion USD according to data from the Office of the US Trade Representative

The American Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines said water shortages and poor waste management are severely impacting the tourism industry in the Philippines, especially in Boracay, Palawan, and Siargao. A representative of the American Chamber of Commerce said, “We must make infrastructure investments, waste management, and water conservation to ensure the long-term health of this vital sector.” The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said groundwater extraction for residential and tourism use leads to water shortages. The Philippines is estimated to generate 2.7 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, and a large part of the waste ends up in oceans, rivers, and landfills. Despite revitalisation efforts, including waste management upgrades, local businesses struggle to dispose of waste and recycle. The EcoWaste Coalition is calling on the local businesses and tourists to adopt eco-friendly practices to minimise waste. The Philippine Government launched the Sustainable Tourism for Local Development (STLD) program to achieve a balance between tourism promotion and environmental preservation. DENR is working with international institutions to promote responsible waste management practices, such as the Eco-Friendly Island Initiative implemented in Boracay, to reduce waste and promote recycling efforts. The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) is working to construct green resorts and hotels in accordance with green building practice

S&P Global’s report shows gross gaming revenue (GGR) is expected to approach or even surpass pre-pandemic levels in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. A S&P Global analyst said Chinese arrivals to Malaysia and Singapore have reached pre-pandemic levels and helped with the recovery of GGR. Data shows GGR in Q1 2024 for Singapore recorded +50% YoY following the introduction of visa-free travel for Chinese visitors. S&P Global said Genting’s plan to set up a casino in the US, within New York, could be an “event risk” affecting the group’s overall revenues. She added that Cambodia is expected to have a slower GGR recovery following China’s crackdown on Chinese junkets – all-inclusive trips for VIP players – which accounted for about 70% of GGR for Cambodia in 2019

The Department of Tourism (DOT) Northern Mindanao is taking steps to develop Muslim-friendly tourism with a focus on the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). The DOT Assistant Regional Director said they have issued a memorandum that sets operational standards for Muslim-friendly accommodation. The guidelines will include requirements for Muslim-friendly quest rooms, including prayer rooms and Qibla direction. DOT-accredited accommodations can apply for Muslim-friendly establishments through the DOT Regional Offices. He will support the Department of Trade and Industry and the Misamis Oriental Retailers Association to establish Halal lanes in major supermarkets in Cagayan de Ore

The Department of Tourism (DOT) said more hotels will get a Muslim-friendly stay badge following the example of Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, which certified all its 13 stays as Muslim-friendly. The Tourism Undersecretary said that Robinsons Hotels and Resorts (RHR) properties are undergoing inspection to secure the certificate. RHR and the DOT signed an MoU to improve the Philippines’ appeal as a premier Muslim-friendly tourism destination. The MoU will focus on expanding Halal Tourism offerings and increasing Muslim-friendly accommodation across the country. She added that the DOT is preparing a memorandum circular to certify Muslim-friendly restaurants in the Philippines. In 2024, the Philippines recorded 10.3% of tourism from Muslim-populated countries out of 5,949,350 international tourists, +23.7% YoY

The consumer price index increased by 1.4% YoY in Jun, above 1.3% recorded in May and below the median 1.5% forecast in the Reuters poll. The core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, was at 2.2% in Jun. BSP cut its key policy rate for the second time in Jun to 5.25%, the lowest level in 2 and a half years

The Philippines will host the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2027 for the first time

Caraboa Island will develop an ecotourism village with a cost of 20 million PHP as part of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and the San Jose local government unit to improve sustainable tourism development in Romblon province. The eco-tourism park will feature a viewing deck, model houses inspired by traditional Ati architecture, performance areas, a gallery, a souvenir shop, and a Cultural Information Centre. San Jose Tourism Officer said 13 million of the budget will be allocated from the prize money received through the Tourism Champions Challenge (TCC), and the remaining amount will be allocated by the municipal government

Hotel101 Global Holdings Corp’s shares dropped by 70% to $3.28 per share on the first day of trade at the Nasdaq Stock Exchange

Local farmers in Palawan province are blaming nickel mining for the impact on the flora and fauna. A farmer said pangolins, warthogs, birds, and flowers are disappearing due to the mining activities. Palawan Island’s Council passed a 50-year moratorium on new mining permits. The farmers also said the mining activities are causing flash floods and sea pollution. An environmental rights lawyer said this moratorium could stop nearly 70 proposed projects covering 240,000 hectares. Global Forest Watch said Palawan lost 219,000ha of tree cover from 2001-2024

International tourist arrivals dropped to 2.54 million from Jan-May 2025, -1.2% YoY. Overseas Filipinos’ arrival recorded +28.5% YoY to 217,626 visitors, helping to float international arrivals. Foreign visitors' arrival dropped to 2.33 million, -2.92% YoY. The largest source of overseas Filipinos are from the US with 53,607, followed by Japan, 22,159; Canada, 21,686; Singapore, 16,604; the UAE, 13,288; and Australia, 12,141. The Vice President of the Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) said their research there was 60% increase in searches from India to the Philippines. In 2024, 79,000 Indian tourists visited the Philippines. From Jan-May 2025, Indian arrivals reached 35,272, slightly higher than the 35,258 Indian tourists recorded in 2024. PHOA will organise PH Connect 2025 from 24-25 Jul at the Manila Marriott, Pasay City, featuring a conference and exhibition. Other top source countries for the Philippines from Jan-May 2025 were South Korea with 552,925 (-19% YoY), followed by the US, 442,756 (+9.67% YoY); Japan at 189,696 (+19% YoY); China at 114,496 (-32% YoY); and Australia at 134,247 (+19.4% YoY); Canada at 120,044 (+18.64% YoY); Taiwan at 83,682 (-11.2% YoY); the UK at 80,336 (+8.06% YoY); Singapore at 63,772 (-1% YoY); and France at 41,206 (+18.66% YoY). The drop in Korean tourists was attributed to violent crime cases against Korean citizens, which led the South Korean embassy to issue a travel warning. While the increase in French tourists is attributed to Air France’s nonstop flights from Paris to Manila, which started in Dec 2024

The Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) announced that over 1 million people who earn minimum wage in the National Capital Region will receive a 50 PHP daily pay increase from Jul. This was the biggest wage adjustment approved by Metro Manila’s Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB). For the retail and service sector with 15 or fewer workers, the minimum wage will increase from 608 PHP to 658 PHP. The wage hike will take effect on 18 Jul. RTWPB made this decision based on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s data of 5.4% GDP growth recorded in Q1 2025, the 1.7% inflation rate in NCR recorded in May, and the 5.1% unemployment rate recorded in Apr. The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) estimated that 1.2 million minimum wage earners will benefit from this policy