The Philippines is set to sustain its cruise tourism recovery in 2026, with early projections indicating 127 ship calls carrying an estimated 5,562 passengers and 1,409 crew.
This forecast follows a robust 2025 which saw 136 cruise calls and 43,369 sea arrivals, an increase of 26.85 percent from the previous year. Manila remains the country’s main cruise gateway, followed by Puerto Princesa and Boracay.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) cited the critical role of regional collaboration in supporting this growth during the Asia Cruise Cooperation (ACC) Annual Regional Meeting on Monday.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said the partnership among destinations, ports and cruise lines is key to ensuring cruise tourism growth is sustainable, inclusive and beneficial to local communities.
“If there is one lesson the ACC teaches, it is this: no destination succeeds alone. Collaboration across ports, cruise lines, and governments ensures every traveler’s experience is seamless, enjoyable and meaningful,” Frasco said in her keynote address.
Launched in 2016, the ACC is a regional alliance of Hong Kong, Taiwan, Hainan and Xiamen in China, the Philippines and South Korea. It serves as a platform for coordinated cruise itinerary development, market intelligence sharing and the collective advancement of cruise tourism across Asia.
The DOT is strengthening domestic cruise infrastructure through nearly 7,000 cruise visa waivers and ongoing port developments in Jubang, Dapa, Coron, Camiguin, Puerto Galera and Manila South Harbor. The government also plans the January 2026 reconstitution of the Cruise Tourism Development Committee to enhance inter-agency coordination under the National Cruise Tourism Development Strategy.
Frasco said the Philippines would continue deepening cooperation with cruise lines on itinerary planning, market insights and operational best practices, always placing sustainability at the center of growth.
“Asia’s cruise market is expanding rapidly, and hosting the ACC meeting allows us to shape a shared regional direction that balances economic growth with cultural exchange and community development,” she said, noting the country’s hosting of Seatrade Cruise Asia 2024 as evidence of growing confidence in Philippine ports and maritime workforce.
The ACC meeting was attended by delegations from Hong Kong and South Korea, alongside DOT officials, all pushing for continued regional collaboration in shaping Asia’s cruise tourism.
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