The Philippines has relaxed visa rules for Indian travelers as part of efforts to boost foreign arrivals and tap high-growth tourism markets, OSAPIEA Secretary Frederick Go said at the EJAP Economic Forum 2025 Monday at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
Indians holding valid visas from the US, Japan, the UK, Australia, the Schengen area, Canada and Singapore can now enter the country visa-free for up to 14 days, said Go.
“Tourism has always been one of the lowest-hanging fruits for our country to maximize, and I have long pushed for it, even back when I was still presidential adviser. Almost every country in the world now offers online visa applications, and we must keep pace if we want to compete,” Go said.
Go said the move addresses long-standing concerns over restrictive visa processes, noting that India offers Filipinos online visa applications while the Philippines previously required Indian visitors to apply in person at only three consulates.
Last year, just over 79,000 Indians visited the Philippines, below the hundreds of thousands to millions visiting neighboring Southeast Asian countries.
“With access now to 1.5 billion people in India, we can be looking at major tourism numbers,” Go said, citing the October launch of Air India’s direct Manila–New Delhi flights, the first in years.
The route is expected to cut travel time from as long as 20 hours to just six hours.
According to the Department of Tourism (DOT), leisure remains the primary draw for Indian travelers, with a strong interest in beaches, shopping and educational tourism.
DOT data show that Indians aged 25 to 44, mostly professionals, are high-yield visitors, with a 66-percent repeat rate.
India ranked as the 13th largest source market for the Philippines in 2024, with 79,366 arrivals.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco expressed optimism about increasing these numbers through intensified marketing campaigns aimed at high-value and luxury travelers.
She said the removal of key hurdles, visa-free entry and direct flights, combined with new digital nomad visas, positions the country to capture a larger share of the Indian market.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent five-day visit to India further strengthened bilateral ties, securing about $446 million in committed investments and up to $4.5 billion in potential deals.
