Philippines

The international expedition cruise ship MV Heritage Adventurer will visit Caramoan, Camarines Sur for the second time, bringing 115 visitors from New Zealand, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Russia and other countries, including a 20-member expedition team. The ship first made a port call in Jun 2025

The Philippine Competition Commission imposed 2.17 million PHP in fines on the Boracay Business Administration of Scuba Shops (BBASS) and 39 dive shops for illegally fixing rates on Boracay Island. Formal pricing arrangements were adopted in 2018 and 2019, with minimum rates for scuba diving and open water diver certification courses. BBASS also limited commissions for trade to 10%. BBASS argued that standardised rates were to protect diver safety and were implemented with the knowledge of the local government

World Bank announced that the Philippines has officially entered its upper middle-income country (UMIC) category, after being in the lower middle-income classification for almost 4 decades. The World Bank said the Philippines reached gross national income (GNI) per capita of $4,850 USD in 2025, surpassing the $4,635 USD threshold for upper middle-income economies

The World Surf League announced that the Cloud 9 event in Siargao has been included in the 2026 Championship Tour. It will be held from 31 Oct to 10 Nov 2026

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines recorded 113.27 million PHP in sales leads during the Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE) 2026 from 5-7 Jun 2026 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur. The Philippines delegation comprised of Aldive Corporation, Buceo Anilao Beach and Dive Resort, Dauin Silver Reef Dive Resort, Garden of Eden Dive Resort, Kasai Village Dive Resort, Lalaguna Villas Luxury Dive Resort & Spa, Logon Fish Buddies Dive Centre, M/Y Resolute (Liveaboards), Slam’s Garden Dive Resort–Ocean Passion, and Umali Dive Centre Corporation

The Philippines has extended visa-free entry for Taiwanese tourists from 1 Jul 2026 to 30 Jun 2027. In 2025, the Philippines welcomed 213,928 Taiwanese visitors, +6.32% YoY. Nearly 630,000 Filipinos visited Taiwan in 2025. In Q1 2026, over 210,000 Filipinos visited Taiwan, +43% YoY. Over 60% of the visitors are independent visitors

Destination such as CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas highlighted their unique attractions at the Central Philippines Tourism Expo (CPTEX) from 26-28 Jun

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and Hann Philippines Inc signed the Registration Agreement on 23 Jun to register the 10 billion PHP worth of Hann Reserve project in New Clark City as a PEZA Ecozone Domestic Market Enterprise for Tourism. The project is expected to generate over 220 direct jobs

The Tourism Secretary warns against visitors who violate rules in the Philippines. The Bureau of Immigration arrested 10 foreign nationals in Siargao, including Israelis, over alleged immigration violations

The Labour Secretary announced that wages for 1.1 million minimum wage workers in Manila will increase by 12% YoY or 85 PHP a day. The wage will be increased in two phases – 60 PHP on 16 Jul and 25 PHP in Jan 2027. This will be the largest single wage adjustment ever in the Manila region

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is projecting Jun 2026 inflation to reach 6% to 7%. It added the drop in domestic oil prices and lower prices of major food items, such as rice, may ease inflation in Jun

The principal Asia-Pacific economist of Visa shared data from Visa’s intelligence at ILTM Asia Pacific 2026 on 29 Jun on luxury travellers. The data shows: As of Apr 2026, affluent card spending across Asian markets showed the sharpest increases in the Philippines (+49%), Taiwan (+41%), and Vietnam (36%); Airfares have increased by 30%, and even higher in Asia and Europe due to reduced seat capacity and an increase in jet fuel prices, since jet fuel accounts for around 30% of an airline's operating costs; The majority of affluent consumers continue to travel far more than non-affluent consumers, with the majority taking trips every 2-3 months; Travel is the top spending category for wealthy travellers, and it recorded an increase between 2023 and 2025; The spending by affluent travellers varies by country. Thais, Chinese, and Indians spend on retail; Australians on recreation and hotel; and Singaporeans on hotel; The top motivation for travel is spending time with family and friends, followed by relaxation, and shopping; Gen Z and Millennials are more interested in experiences, sports, and culture, compared to older Gen X and Boomers. The younger generation is also more interested in travelling for “social media reasons” and look for experiences that look good on social media; Affluent Singaporean travellers prefer Malaysia, Japan, and Europe

Kalanggaman Island in Palompon and Canigao Island in Matalom will be temporarily closed for visitors in Jul 2026 to allow their annual rehabilitation, environmental conservation, and facility maintenance. Kalanggaman Island will be closed from 5-11 Jul, while Canigao Island will be closed from 1-15 Jul 2026

The Acting Tourism Secretary assured there won’t be any additional government funds allocated to develop and introduce the new “Discover More to Love” domestic travel campaign by the Department of Tourism (DOT). She mentioned this during the 4th Central Philippines Tourism Expo (CPTEX) in Santa Rosa, Laguna. Visa, Mastercard, and Alipay are also participating in the campaign for an easier paying and booking process

The Philippines is looking to attract more foreign retirees and their spending as it was named as the top retirement destination based on the Retirement Abroad Index by the Expatriate Group, with 78 points out of 100. The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) President said this will allow them to attract more retirees, and the global retirement industry is valued at approximately $70 trillion USD. There are around 62,000 foreign retirees with Special Resident Retiree’s Visas (SRRVs) in the Philippines, according to PRA, and they are targeting 4,700 new SRRV applications in 2026

Cebu is bidding to host the Philippine MICE Conferences after becoming one of three shortlisted destinations in the Visayas alongside Iloilo and Boracay. Local tourism stakeholders preparing presentations ahead of the final selection in Sep 2026

TikTok and the Department of Tourism have launched “Wanderlust Week” to gather creators, tourism stakeholders, and brand partners to showcase tourism through authentic storytelling. This program was introduced following the launch of a new domestic travel campaign, “Discover More to Love”. Wanderlust Week features creators from Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. The event is supported by Philippine Airlines (PAL), PepsiCo Philippines, and Hikari Sunscreen

The Department of Tourism has launched a new portal, tourism.gov.ph, that will act as the home to the “Discover More to Love” campaign. It will list offers from airlines, hotels and tour providers, as well as destination and local food guides, and festival calendars

A study by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) found that the overall consumer confidence index (CI) dropped to -42% in Q2 2026, the lowest since the CI dropped to -47.9% in Q4 2020. This shows that Filipinos are more pessimistic compared to Q4 2025, when the CI dropped to -15.8%, and in Q2 2025, when the CI dropped to -10.9%

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is predicting there is a 69% chance of a strong El Nino from the Aug to Oct 2026 season. Climate Monitoring and Prediction at PAGASA predicts the peak of El Nino possibly warming up to Q1 2027. The dry spell is expected to start by Nov, while prolonged dry spells may be possible by early 2027

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is looking to amend a 17-year-old law to restructure the agency, in order to strengthen its authority to accredit tourism establishments and services, after a zipline cable incident caused an Indian tourist to fall close to 40 feet in Greek Hills Resort in Bukidnon. The resort wasn’t accredited by the DOT Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) but had a license to operate from the local government unit of Kitaotao. The Department of Interior and Local Government issued a memo to highlight the need for a DOT accreditation before Local Government Units issue permits and licences to tourism enterprises

Japan will continue to offer temporary visitor visas for Filipinos free of cost, as it increased its visa fees for the first time in 50 years. In 2025, Japan welcomed 885,023 Filipinos

The Philippines is launching aggressive domestic tourism campaigns, as international arrivals from its top source market, South Korea, have dropped, although other source markets recorded growth and overall international arrivals increased by 6.1% YoY from 1 Jan-15 Jun 2026, according to the Tourism Secretary. She did not specify exact numbers. The Department of Tourism (DOT) will work with the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) and other organisations to strengthen domestic tourism efforts. DOT will also discuss with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority and the Department of the Interior and Local Government on initiatives to improve visitor experience and tourist safety. The HSMA Chair said restoring tourist arrivals from South Korea should be prioritised, as gains from other markets cannot fully offset the decline. She added that more South Korean tourists are choosing Vietnam, Thailand and China due to perceived better value compared to the Philippines

The UAE will offer visa-on-arrival access to Filipinos with a valid visa, residence permit, or green card issued by the US, European Union member states, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Canada, or New Zealand from 25 Jun 2026. The 14-day visa will cost 100 AED and can be extended for another 14 days for 25 AED. A non-extendable 60-day visa will cost 250 AED

DMCI Holdings, Inc.’s property unit DMCI Homes is looking to launch Solmera Beach Park Resort – which consists of 5 towers within its Solmera Coast estate in San Juan, Batangas – in Feb 2027. The resort is expected to benefit from San Juan’s tourism, supported by increasing domestic travel and better road connectivity from Manila

PAGASA projects Typhoon Francisco and the southwest monsoon Habagat to bring rainy weather over Luzon and parts of the Visayas on 24 Jun. Francisco is expected to weaken but remain a typhoon until it exits the Philippine area of responsibility on 25 Jun or 26 Jun

Guam International Airport Authority officials met with Philippine immigration officials to discuss a potential inclusion of the Philippines in the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, to offer up to 45 days visa-free access to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands

The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Talisay Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed concerns over power supply constraints affecting Cebu Province. The Mandaue Chamber said Mandaue City has the highest number of industrial and manufacturing corridors, making it highly exposed to risks from an unstable grid

Puerto Galera Tourism Office assured the public that F&B establishments, accommodation, transport providers, diving, and beach destinations in the municipality will remain open despite the water shortage, which led to an emergency declaration on 15 Jun

The government is increasing measures to protect food, water and energy supplies from a potentially extreme El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to continue until 2027. The President said agencies are making preparations as forecasts show prolonged dry conditions affecting the Philippines until 2027

25 tour guides completed the Department of Tourism Negros Island Region’s (DOT-NIR) 7-day Community Tourist Guiding Training on 21 Jun

The Department of Energy (DOE) expressed support for a proposal to declare an ‘energy emergency’ in Cebu, following continuing power supply issues. The Visayas grid has been placed on yellow and red alerts since 12 May

The Department of Energy (DOE) adjusted fuel prices from 23-29 Jun. Diesel prices dropped by 9.04 PHP to 11.04 PHP per litre, kerosene prices dropped by 9.82 PHP to 11.82 PHP per litre, and gasoline prices dropped by 3.90 PHP to 5.90 PHP per litre. DOE Secretary said impact from any new tensions over the Strait of Hormuz will be reflected in the coming week’s price adjustment

The Philippines and Colombia signed an MoU on tourism cooperation. Ambassador of the Philippines, representing the Department of Tourism, signed the MoU with Colombia’s Tourism Minister

Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary announced they have revised the economic growth to 3.5% to 4.5% in 2026 following adjustments in government spending and changing economic conditions. He said the economic growth could reach 3.8% in Q1 2026, instead of 2.8% if government spending had gone as planned

The PHP has dropped for the fourth consecutive trading day to 61.123 PHP against the USD on 22 Jun, vs 60.775 PHP against the USD on 19 Jun

The Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) Philippines President said the profit margins of the hospitality industry have been affected due to an increase in electricity and fuel costs. She added that the industry needs to work harder to rebound in profitability, not only in building the hotel occupancy but also the average rates of the hotel. Under the “Discover More to Love” campaign, HSMA members will offer discount rates ranging from 50% to 70%

The Department of Tourism (DOT) will offer affordable travel packages for the public through a website administered by DOT. The DOT Secretary said many hotels have signed up with DOT to offer a better bundled package at affordable rates. The packages will be available from Jul-Nov 2026. She also added that DOT will refresh the ‘Love the Philippines’ slogan to “Discover more reasons to love the Philippines”. The campaign will be launched on 26 Jun as a domestic effort, before eventually expanding to the international markets. The DOT is finalising the terms and conditions for the bidding of the new domestic campaign. The DOT received 1.3 billion PHP in branding funds for 2026. She also added that ‘Love the Philippines’ might be aggressive for some markets, and adding “Discovery” will make it more relevant to Filipinos and Gen Z. She also said international arrivals from the US have overtaken South Korea as the top source market. From 1 Jan-16 Jun, the Philippines welcomed 591,569 visitors from the US, accounting for 20% of the total international arrivals for the period. South Korean arrivals from Jan-May 2026 have dropped to 501,789, nearly -10% YoY

The Mastercard CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) for 2026 ranked the Philippines in 5th place among Muslim-friendly destinations outside Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries, up from 8th place in 2025. The Philippines has around 70 Halal or Muslim-friendly establishments, an increase of 4 times since 2016. The Department of Tourism (DOT) Acting Secretary called Muslim-friendly tourism a “major opportunity” with over 2 billion Muslim consumers worldwide, during the Salaam: The Halal Tourism and Trade Expo Philippines 2026 on 19 Jun. During the same event, Malaysia’s Ambassador to the Philippines said the halal economy is projected to grow to $3.4 trillion in 2026. He added that Malaysia will support the Philippines to grow in the industry. In 2025, international tourist arrivals from OIC countries reached 202,995, +1.24% YoY. Malaysia remained the top OIC source market at 104,989 (+2.43%) Indonesia at 49,903 (-10.7%) Saudi Arabia at 17,780 (-7.23%) Bangladesh at 10,639 (+112.6%) Pakistan at 5,820 (-2.17%) Brunei at 4,544 (-9.23%) Kuwait at 4,053 (-10.96%) Morocco at 3,562 (-3.76%) UAE at 3,320 (-4.35%)

Hotel 101-Davao, the largest hotel in the Mindanao region with 519 rooms, will open on 30 Jul. The company said its Hotel101-Manila and Hotel101-Fort have continued to record high occupancy rates. The company launched its first hotel outside the Philippines, Hotel101-Madrid, in Mar 2026. Hotel101 is expected to open 2,229 additional rooms, including the 548-room hotel in Cebu and the 482-room Hotel101-Niseko in Hokkaido, Japan, which is scheduled to open in Dec 2026

President Marcos Jr said that he could not “find any serious objections to” the Philippines and Russia having a visa-free agreement in the future

The Davao Occidental provincial government has suspended tourism activities and closed tourism establishments identified as potentially hazardous from 17 Jun until further notice, following damage caused by an earthquake

Mastercard and CrescentRating released the 11th edition of the Global Muslim Travel Index 2026. The report shows 80% of travellers are now using AI tools for travel, highlighting the need of Muslim-fiendly services to be available digitally to make them visible. GMTI 2026 evaluates 150 destinations, representing 98% of global Muslim visitor arrivals, within the ACES framework: Access, Communications, Environment and Services. GMTI 2026 also found that the travellers are adjusting their itineraries to regional destinations, instead of long-haul routes through complex transit hubs, to avoid cancelling their plans. Southeast Asia has become a leading destination for 2026 for Asian Muslim travellers for its proximity, air connectivity, and halal ecosystem. Mindanao, the Philippines, was recognised as the Most Promising Muslim-friendly Region (Non-OIC) and Jawa Barat, Indonesia, is the Most Promising Muslim-friendly Region (OIC). Asia records nearly 128 million Muslim arrivals, and a 20.8% market penetration. Malaysia retained its position as the Top Muslim-friendly Destination of the Year for the 11th consecutive year, with a score of 83, followed by Indonesia, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia at second place with 79 points. Among non-OIC destinations, Singapore ranked 1st for non-OIC destinations, and 10th globally with 73 points, and Thailand and the Philippines also showed momentum

The Philippines recorded 2,955,014 tourists, +6.16% YoY, from 1 Jan to 16 Jun 2026, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT). The top source market is the US with 591,569 visitors

The Greek Hills Resort in Kitaotao, Bukidnon, has suspended its adventure operations following a zipline accident involving an Indian tourist. The resort will carry out a comprehensive safety review. The injured tourist is in good condition and has received treatment. Kitaotao Government has issued a cease-and-desist order against the resort as they launched an investigation on this issue

The Cebu Port Authority will resume collecting regular port charges from 18 Jun 2026, after offering discounted fees in Apr 2026 as part of initiatives to help mitigate fuel crisis impacts, which included the suspension of passenger terminal fees in all CPA-operated terminals

The Department of Tourism (DOT) Office of Product Development (OPD) Director said they want to build a Filipino wellness brand, leveraging the country’s traditional folk medicine and healing practices. The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) ranked the Philippines at 23rd out of 218 countries worldwide and 8th out of 45 countries in the Asia Pacific region in terms of wellness economy value. The local wellness economy reached $47.4 billion in 2024, 10.24% of the GDP, including wellness tourism at $3.7 billion USD

The Philippines Central Bank has increased its key interest rate by 25 basis points for a second time in a row on 18 Jun. The Governor said they will consider a larger rate increase if needed to reduce the inflation to 3% target. The central bank increased its inflation forecasts to 6.4% from 6.3% for 2026, and to 4.5% from 4.3% for 2027

A Colliers Philippines report found that development in provinces surrounding the National Capital Region (NCR) is increasing, driven by strong spending from domestic travellers. In 2024, 63.9 million domestic travellers required overnight accommodation, and spending growth posted a 16.4% YoY increase. Batangas and Cavite ranked second and seventh, respectively, among the top 10 domestic destinations for overnight travellers. Projects planned in Batangas include Landco Pacific Corp.’s Amara en Terrazas de Punta Fuego and Spinnaker at Club Laiya; DMCI Holdings, Inc.’s Solmera Coast; and SM Prime Holdings, Inc.’s Pico Terraces. In Cavite, planned developments include Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc.’s Pinevale and Alpine Villas; SM Prime Holdings, Inc.’s Horizon Terraces; and Filinvest Development Corp.’s Fora Condotel

Puerto Galera Town, Oriental Mindoro, has declared a state of calamity following a water shortage due to a prolonged dry spell. With this declaration, the town will allocate emergency funds and resources, as well as ease penalties for those affected by the crisis. The town sources water from natural springs, and the local government constructed several deep wells over the last 3 years, but those have since become unusable

The Assistant Vice President of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said the power supply issue in the Visayas is expected to continue until Aug, as several major coal-fired power plants remain offline. She added that only one of the four plants that went offline has resumed its operations so far. Department of Energy (DOE) officials said Unit 3 plant is scheduled to resume operations by 3 Jul 2026, while Units 1 and 2 will resume operation by Aug 2026. Due to a 900 megawatt capacity shortage, NGCP has placed the Visayas grid under yellow, and at times red, alert status

Northern Mindanao is looking to develop Linamon in Lanao del Norte as a diving tourism destination in the province. Lanao del Norte Governor said they have conducted a dive exploration to assess potential sites and opportunities for marine tourism

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines recorded a total of 63.4 million PHP in sales during the ITB China 2026 from 26-28 May 2026. TPB hosted a networking event on 26 May with 50 Chinese buyers, and generated 6.5 million PHP in sales leads and an additional 56.9 million in potential business transactions

Radisson RED has launched Radisson RED Cebu Mandaue in Mandaue City, Cebu, its first hotel in the Philippines

Pangasinan organised a cycling event in conjunction with the 128th Philippine Independence Day. 126 cyclists took part in the event. Pangasinan Governor announced that they aim to make the Tour de Pangasinan an annual event

The Department of Tourism (DOT) reported 8 hotels in General Santos City suffered damage as of 12 Jun, due to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Southern Mindanao on 8 Jun. The hotels are Hotel San Marco, Florotel II Hotel, Jeamco Royal Hotel, Grand Summit Hotel, Sydney Hotel, Family Country Hotel, Avior Hotel, and Columbus Plaza Hotel. 78 tourists were evacuated from Mt. Melibenggoy from Lake Holon in T’Boli, South Cotabato, which is currently temporarily closed due to a landslide. Several planned activities have been postponed, including the Reyna ng Davao 2026 scheduled on 20 Jun; coastal and water activities in Davao Oriental are suspended; and the Masbol Cultural Festival in Saranggani on 9 Jun was cancelled

An aftershock of 4.9-magnitude hit Sarangani, Davao Occidental on 14 Jun

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief said they have mobilised units to assist water conservation measures and assist affected communities following a water conservation advisory from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) due to El Nino

The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas announced transport workers of Grab Philippines will begin to receive 5,000 PHP of government cash assistance, with payouts running on 15-18 Jun 2026 at SM Seaside City Cebu

The earthquake in southern Mindanao island on 8 Jun increased the seabed by 2m, exposing coral and causing harm to marine life, according to the Environment Department. The department also said due to the “coastal uplift” phenomenon, the shoreline has been extended by as much as 200m in some places

China announced sanctions against the Defence Secretary of the Philippines for “repeated irresponsible remarks” undermining China’s interests and damaging bilateral relations. The Defence Secretary and his family will be banned from entering China, Hong Kong, and Macao. The Defence Secretary responded by saying “That is their right” and he will continue doing his duty to the country. He is one of the most outspoken critics of China’s action in the South China Sea

The latest report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) shows that 55 people have died, 1,120 injured, and 31 missing, due to the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in southern Mindanao as of 12 Jun. Search and rescue operations are continuing in the hardest-hit communities

Acesite (Phils.) Hotel Corp has suspended the reconstruction work at the Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel, following an increase in construction costs and a weak tourism and gaming industry. The company reported that the reconstruction budget has increased to 3.6 billion PHP, above the 1.5 billion PHP insurance proceeds allocated for the reconstruction after the property was destroyed in a fire in 2018. The company said materials and labourers increased drastically, following an increase in fuel prices. The company expects reconstruction to begin again in early 2028

The Australia-Philippines Business Council (APBC) held a meeting with Filipino Journalists to highlight their efforts to bring more tourists and food security strategies to the Philippines. APBC is working with the Department of Agriculture and an Australian Engineer to improve farm-to-table methods and build mobile cold chain storage facilities in the Philippines

Megaworld Hotels & Resorts (MHR) will open its biggest hotel, the Belmont Hotel Iloilo, on 24 Jun. The hotel will focus on MICE and will be the 3rd Muslim-friendly hotel by MHR in the city with Halal certification

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will make a 10.74 billion PHP-worth public-private partnership project to upgrade border security at 11 major airports, 1 international seaport, and 6 border stations. They will introduce contactless corridors, biometric facial recognition, automated immigration kiosks, and advanced passenger pre-screening systems

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced they recorded 1.358 million arrivals in Apr 2026 (vs 1.337 million in Apr 2025) and 1.309 million in May 2026 (vs 1.299 million in May 2025). The top source markets are South Korea, the US, Canada, Japan, and China

The Governor of Cebu says funds have not been allocated for the “Festival of Festivals” as part of Cebu Province’s founding anniversary celebration. She adds that the plan for the event may be revised or even shelved based on the final costs. Officials are assessing the cost of the event, and Cebu City is likely to host it if they decide to proceed

The Department of Tourism has advised visitors to monitor advisories before proceeding with their travel plans in the areas affected by the 8 Jun earthquake in Mindanao. The DOT said all tourism-related activities in Davao Region have been suspended as a precautionary step. They have asked the travellers to coordinate with hotels and tour operators on cancellations, rebooking options, and operational status

Ayala Land will reopen the Mandarin Oriental Manila in Dec 2026 with 275 guestrooms and suites, over 10 years since the original property closed in 2014

The Philippines welcomed 2,741,117 visitors from Jan-May 2026, +7.51% YoY, including 2.53 million foreign tourists (+8.34% YoY) and 217,627 overseas Filipinos (-1.44% YoY). The top markets are: South Korea, 499,944 visitors (-9.58% YoY) The US at 480,813 (8.5%) Japan at 204,726 (+7.9%) China at 186,860 (+63.2%) Australia at 153,098 (+13.4%) Canada at 141,557 (+18.9%) Taiwan at 93,727 (+12%) The UK at 82,533 (+2.6%) Singapore at 64,754 (+1.54%) India at 52,077 (+47.43%) France at 46,369 (+12.5%) Malaysia at 45,821 (+16.23%) The Philippines targets 6.7 million visitors in 2026

The Presidential Palace stated they are optimistic about sustaining the slowdown in the unemployment rate, which dropped to 4.7% in Apr 2026 (equivalent to 2.41 million people) vs 5% in Mar 2026 (2.58 million), based on data from the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA). However, this data is still high compared to 4.1% in Apr 2025 (2.06 million)

Cebu hosted its 5th Cebu Food & Wine Festival (CFWF), in partnership with the Cebu provincial government, local farmers, hospitality stakeholders, and international industry groups, to highlight culinary tourism

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported more than 1,100 aftershocks as of 8am on 9 Jun following the earthquake off Sarangani, ranging from magnitude 1.3 to 6.7. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Maasim, Sarangani, Mindanao, on 8 Jun, triggering tsunami waves and causing infrastructure damage. Aftershocks are projected to continue for over a month

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has named new undersecretaries, including former Philippine Airlines Chief, Stanley Ng, for the Halal Tourism and Muslim Concerns office; Maria Victoria Jasmin for the Tourism Regulation, Coordination, and Resource Generation office; and Rivera-Guilermo for Administration and Finance