Philippines

The Philippine government chartered a repatriation flight from the UAE on 14 Mar, carrying 442 Filipinos home, 224 of whom were overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). 1,189 OFWs are seeking repatriation from the Middle East as of 4 Mar

Christina Frasco steps down as the Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and has been appointed as a Presidential adviser for sustainable and resilient communities. Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso will serve as the DOT Officer in Charge (OIC)

Chief economist of Security Bank Corporation warns inflation in Mar could reach 4% if Dubai crude oil continues above $100 USD per barrel

The Philippines Retirement Authority (PRA) CEO said they achieved 99% of their target in 2024, and in 2026, they recorded a 25% YoY increase. The Philippines is hosting more than 84,000 foreign retirees, with 40% from China, followed by South Korea, India, the US, and Taiwan. PRA is targeting younger and financially capable Asians, lowering the minimum retirement age to 40 from 50

The European Union will allocate a 125 million PHP grant under the EU-Philippine Green Economy Partnership for MSMEs. The fund will help the MSMEs to transition to eco-friendly practices. This program is part of the EU’s partnership with the Philippines, with a 3.67 billion USD to speed up the shift towards a greener economy

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects the economy of the Philippines to grow faster than that of other ASEAN countries. ASEAN economic growth is projected at 4.3%, above the global growth projection of 3.3%. IMF projects 5.6% economic growth for 2026 and 5.8% in 2027 for the Philippines

The President has certified a bill that empowers him to temporarily suspend or reduce the excise taxes on petroleum products during national or global economic emergencies. The bill was introduced following volatile global oil markets triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned certain locations in the Philippines will experience “extreme caution” heat index level on 12 Mar, reaching 33°C to 41°C, which can cause heat cramps and heat exhaustion if exposed for a long time

The Philippines, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said increasing fuel prices could affect MSMEs, as they operate with thin margins. There are 1.2 million MSMEs in the Philippines. PCCI expressed support for the government’s measures to ease fuel costs

The House of Representatives Committee has approved a bill to suspend the fuel tax to ease the increase in oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East

The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) organised a forum to discuss best sustainable tourism practices and long-term strategies. Representatives from Japan, the Philippines, and Laos took part in the panel session. An Officer from the UN Tourism Regional Support Office for Asia and the Pacific gave a keynote address, and the Secretary General of the ASEAN-Japan Centre gave closing remarks

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) warned that prolonged war in the Middle East and an increase in global oil prices up to $140 per barrel could increase inflation beyond the government target. The Department of Energy (DOE) assured that the Philippines has a sufficient fuel supply to last until Apr. DOE also said the government and the private sector are working together to prevent an increase in local pump prices

The Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary said the “Boyfriend on Demand” Netflix Korean drama, which was shot in part in Cebu, has given a global boost to Cebu. DOT Korea Office, the Office of Film and Sports Tourism, DOT Regional Office VII, local stakeholders, and airport authorities coordinated to ensure a smooth production of the show in Cebu. One of the actors in the show was serving as the Philippines’ Celebrity Tourism Ambassador. This is expected to improve Cebu’s appeal among Korean and international viewers

Romblon Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) is promoting “slow food tourism” with a focus on immersive activities to allow tourists to take part in the food preparation process, from sourcing ingredients to cooking, and tasting the food. PTO is looking for restaurants, associations, and cooperatives which are willing to offer this culinary experience to the visitors

Tourist transport operators in Bohol will adjust their service rates after a surge in fuel prices. The Bohol Confederation of Tourist Transport Providers (BCTTP), comprising 28 members, decided that following the increase in fuel costs, which has significantly affected tourist transport services in the province. BCTTP clarified that the new rates will only apply to new bookings, and the previous reservations will remain at the agreed price

The House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means has approved the unnumbered substitute measure to consolidate several proposals to abolish the travel tax. The House Committee on Appropriations will continue to deliberate on the measure

The PHP dropped to a new low of 59.7 PHP per USD on 9 Mar, following the conflict in the Middle East, which increased global energy prices

Ferry operators in the Visayas region announced they will increase their fares, impose temporary surcharges, and cancel trips following the crisis in the Middle East. FasCat, a roll-on/roll-off ferry operator, implemented an updated fare matrix for the passengers and vehicles from 6 Mar. OceanJet announced a temporary cancellation of several trips between Cebu and other nearby destinations from 6-20 Mar. Passengers may request a refund or rebook their trips. Cuadro Alas Navigation Lines Inc. will temporarily reduce its trips from 9 Mar. Roble Shipping Inc. will impose a temporary fuel surcharge from 9 Mar. Jomalia Shipping Corporation imposed a 20% fuel surcharge for its route between Danao City and Camotes Island

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will deploy 800 police officers in coordination with the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Apr to strengthen safety and security measures. The officers will be deployed to sites like Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Poblacion in Makati, Boracay, Siargao, Cebu, Bohol, and Puerto Princesa

The Department of Science and Technology-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) and the Bohol Island State University (BISU) are collaborating for a science-based conservation project of heritage structures. Under the project, historic structures across Bohol will apply advanced non-destructive testing (NDT) methods and promote sustainable conservation materials

Ferry operations in the Visayas are starting to be disrupted due to rising fuel prices. FastCat announced an updated fare matrix, noting that a 40% increase in global fuel costs will impact its operational expenses. OceanJet, another high-speed ferry operator, temporarily suspended some trips between Cebu and other destinations from 6-20 Mar due to fuel costs

Iloilo City was named as the top destination for MICE and received the Tourism Mover Award, the Model Tourist Attraction Award for its Iloilo River Esplanade, and Top Contributing LGU for Same-Day Tourist Arrivals during the Department of Tourism (DOT) 6 (Western Visayas) Pagdayaw 2025 on 5 Mar

The Philippines is looking to save on energy as conflict in the Middle East is pushing global fuel prices up. The President ordered government offices to set their aircons to no lower than 24 deg C and adopt flexible work arrangements to conserve fuel. Manila Mayor has advised the city government to cut fuel consumption by shifting meetings online, switching power off by 5pm and banning non-essential travel

The Tourism Secretary said the Department of Tourism (DOT) office in South Korea has partnered with airlines and 15 South Korean travel agencies to promote the Philippines by offering discounts for airfare and promotional packages for certain regions. The Philippines will take part in the Seoul International Travel Fair (SITF) and the Korea International Boat Show (KIBS), as well as several underwater sports expositions. In 2025, arrivals from South Korea dropped to 1.25 million, -20.5% YoY, due to concerns over personal safety

OceanJet, a fastcraft operator, announced suspension of multiple trips between Cebu and parts of Leyte and Bohol from 6 Mar, following an ongoing fuel crisis due to the conflict in the Middle East

The President announced that all government offices would switch to a 4-day working week from 9 Mar due to fuel shortages. The Philippines imports most of its crude oil from the Middle East, and uses oil-fuelled power plants to generate electricity. Government study tours and team building activities have also been banned

The Philippines participated in ITB Berlin, with a significant delegation

The 9th International Farm Tourism Conference was held on 4 Mar. The event highlighted how farm tourism can boost rural livelihoods and connect travellers with local food, culture, and landscapes. The conference was organised by the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) at the Hotel Supreme Mall and Events Centre. During the event, the Farm Tourism Strategic Action Plan (FTSAP) 2026-2031, to strengthen farm-based tourism, was launched

South Korean President and the Philippines President signed 10 MoUs on 3 Mar, including on strengthening cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), nuclear energy, and defence, and cultural exchanges

Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark Mactan signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Bohol International Marathon to host the inaugural Jpark Mactan International Marathon. The early bird rate for the marathon will be offered from 7 Feb until 7 Mar. The marathon will feature 4 race categories, 42K, 21K, 10K, and 5K, with 3,000 runners expected to take part

The Finance Secretary said there are no plans to revise the Philippines’ GDP growth target in 2026, and added the outlook will be based on how far the oil price will increase and how long it stays at that price. He added that currently the oil price is at $76 to $78 USD per barrel (bbl). Economic managers assume that if the Dubai crude increases to $85 per bbl, it could cut 0.1 to 0.25 percentage points off the full-year GDP growth. The Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) projected the 2026 GDP to come in at 5% to 6%, lower than the previous target of 6% to 7%. DBCC narrowed its forecast to 5.5% to 6.5% for 2027, lower than the 6% to 7% target in 2027. The GDP is forecasted to grow at 6% to 7% in 2028

Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) have begun to prepare to release 2.5 billion PHP fuel subsidy for qualified public utility vehicles (PUV) operators if the global oil prices climb to $80 USD per barrel

The Department of Tourism (DOT) Calabarzon will fully support the new Laguna Pilgrimage Tourism initiative, focusing on promotion and marketing efforts. The program was launched in Nov 2025

The Bohol Provincial Board (PB) has approved the “Enhanced Sustainable Marine Wildlife Interaction Ordinance” to impose stricter regulations on whale sharks, dolphins, and other marine wildlife tourism in the province. The Governor suspended whale shark interactions in Lila, Alburquerque and Dauis in Feb 2025 following regulatory violations and risks to the marine ecosystem, including illegal feeding practices. The new regulations also states tourism activities should not disrupt feeding, breeding, migratory routes or habitats of whale sharks, dolphins, whales, manta rays, dugongs and marine turtles. The new regulations also states that no marine wildlife tourism activities can operate without a certificate of compliance from the Governor, Department of Tourism, Maritime Industry Authority registration, and environmental compliance certification. The operators must provide trained guides and lifeguards, insurance, and must implement online monitoring systems to manage visitors. The implementation will be overseen by a a Sustainable Wildlife Tourism Advisory Board with the Provincial Environment Management Office serving as the secretariat. Those who violate the regulations will face fines of 5,000 PHP per violation or per day, or imprisonment of up to 6 months, suspension or revocation of permits and penalties under national conservation laws

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will issue around 700 motorcycles to different units to provide security for foreign tourists

The Philippine Cyclo Tourism program was launched in Marinduque Province to offer sightseeing tours to showcase the province’s scenic routes, attractions, and unique culture. All-inclusive 3D2N bike tour packages will be offered, including transport, accommodations, meals, the use of quality mountain bikes, and a support van. The program will be held from Mar-May 2026

The Philippines Embassies in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Jordan have told their nationals to limit their movement

Bohol will allow whale shark watching soon, but with new regulations, where a “no approach, no interaction” rule will be strictly implemented under its new Provincial Ordinance No. 2026-004 (the Enhanced Marine Wildlife Interaction Ordinance)

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) have allocated funds for Bohol’s redevelopment, despite the plans to abolish the travel tax, the agency’s main source of revenue. TIEZA reported that its travel tax collections in 2025 were 8.7 billion PHP, 1 billion PHP higher than 2024’s

From 2000-2024, Central Visayas welcomed 31.5 million international visitors, more than the National Capital Region’s 19.6 million. Western Visayas has seen 11.9 million, Bicol 8.9 million, and Central Luzon 8.3 million. CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) saw 77.5 million domestic visitors from 2008-2024, with its close location to Metro Manila making it easy for short breaks. Bicol saw 51.7 million domestic travellers, Central Visayas 45.9 million, Central Luzon 44.2 million and Western Visayas 38.2 million

Taiwanese arrivals into the Philippines in 2025 was 213,928, +6.3$ YoY, which the DOT attributed to visa free access starting from 1 Jul 2025

The OUTDOORS7 Summit will be held from 27 Feb-1 Mar in Cebu City, organised by the DOT-7 (Central Visayas), with demonstrations, talks and an exhibition about adventure and outdoors activities

The Department of Tourism (DOT) recorded 80 million PHP in sales leads, +43% YoY, at the Salon de la Plongee Sous-Marine, dive show in Parc des Expositions, Paris, France from 8-11 Jan

The House tourism committee has approved the proposed abolition of the travel tax bill and forwarded it to the Ways and Means Panel for the draft alternative taxation mechanisms. However, concerns over funding cuts for the programs under the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and the National Commission for the Culture and Arts (NCCA), since the collection from the tax is allocated to these agencies. CHEd Commissioner said that without identifying an alternative funding source, the fund for scholarships, research, and other benefits for around 5.4 million students in 1,906 learning institutions will be reduced. NCCA Deputy Executive Director also said they need an alternative source for funding to implement the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts. The Chair of the House Committee said the panel head and the bill authors will try find other sources of funding for the affected agencies

The Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) raised concerns over the proposal to abolish travel tax, warning it could affect the domestic tourism sector’s recovery. PHOA said the tax removal at this stage could shift the focus towards overseas travel. PHOA urged that any decision to abolish the tax should focus on a comprehensive plan to outline alternative measures to sustain the growth of the tourism industry

The Director for Hotels, Tourism, and Leisure at Leechiu Property Consultants warned that removing travel tax without a clear replacement funding source for the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) could weaken tourism growth in the Philippines. TIEZA retain 50% of the travel tax, the Commission on Higher Education (40%), and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (10%)

The Philippines took part in the FITUR 2026, an international tourism trade fair in Madrid, Spain

The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Bicol said the tourist arrivals in Albay Province have increased as Mayon Volcano continues to erupt for the 8th week. The DOT Bicol Director said the hotels in Albay have reached full occupancy based on the agency’s monitoring. He assured the leisure activities outside the 6km permanent danger zone remain normal, and the tourists are also visiting the nearby provinces such as Sorsogon, Masbate, and Camarines provinces, for activities like whale shark interaction, manta ray encounters, and white-sand beaches. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported high sulfur dioxide emissions, with continuous pyroclastic density currents and rockfall events. Mayon eruption has already generated 23 million cubic metres of volcanic materials

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that phase 1 of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) will be inaugurated by 1 Mar. The BRT stations will feature 3 stations, such as Cebu South Bus Terminal Station, Cebu Normal University Station, and Fuente Station, benefiting 34,000 passengers

Davao City will launch new curated experiences for tourists, including the Furosato Davao: Davao-Japan Friendship Tour; the Davao Abundant Harvest, an agri-tourism circuit; and the Davao Market Experience

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) published a report called the “Philippine Tourism Sectoral Review (2000 to 2025): From Promise to Power – Accelerating the Philippines’ Tourism Transformation toward Sustainability, Competitiveness, and Inclusion” in Dec 2025. The report shows Central Visayas recorded 31.5 million foreign arrivals between 2000 and 2024, outpacing other regions, including Metro Manila. The region also welcomed 60.1 million domestic visitors during the same period, second only to Calabarzon. Central Visayas also welcomed 299,00 overseas Filipinos

HBX Group announced that the Philippines will host MarketHub Asia in 2027. MarketHub Asia 2026 was held in Bali, Indonesia, bringing around 400 client-partners, leaders, decision makers, and travel tech innovators from 16 international source markets

The Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and private sector members of the Farm Tourism Development Board (FTDB), launched the Farm Tourism Strategic Action Plan (FTSAP 2026 to 2031 on 16 Feb to expand farm and gastronomy tourism. The Tourism Secretary said global agritourism is projected to grow from $69 billion USD in 2019 to about $197 billion USD by 2032. The Department of Tourism has accredited 138 farm tourism sites in the Philippines as of Feb 2026

The Vice President Duterte declared she would seek the presidency in the 2028 elections, despite facing a new impeachment trial in Congress

The Director for Hotel Investment Sales of Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) highlighted that the average daily rate (ADR) of hotels in the Philippines increased to 5,987 PHP in 2025 from 5,408 PHP in 2019. But the revenue per available room (ReVPAR) dropped to 3,620 PHP in 2025 from 3,691 PHP in 2019. He also said that the hotel occupancy has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels of 68%, only reaching 60% in 2025. The inflation rate dropped to 1.7% in 2025, the lowest in 9 years, from 2.4% in 2019. He is also optimistic about the Department of Tourism’s target to welcome 6.98 million visitors in 2026. He also said MICE is a high-growth sector, supported by key supply and demand drivers

A study by the Institute for Risk and Strategic Studies Inc. (Salceda Research) shows abolishing travel tax could generate 43.6 billion PHP in additional economic output, exceeding the current collection of 8.9 billion PHP from the levy. Salceda Research also projects the policy will produce 19.6 billion in new gross value added, with possible multiplier effects of lower travel costs on airlines' tourism services, and consumer spending