The Philippines recorded 5.606 million international visitor arrivals as of Dec. 20, 2025, as the government looks to a recovering Chinese market to bolster overall growth and return to pre-pandemic performance.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) said the pace of recovery in China remains a primary factor in improving arrival figures, noting that the country is one of the most strategic source markets for Philippine tourism.
Officials are working to match or exceed the 2019 record of nearly 2 million Chinese visitors, a period when China was the country’s second-largest source of tourists after South Korea.
China ranked sixth as a source market with 262,144 visitors this year. It trailed South Korea, the United States, Japan, Australia and Canada.
The department said the slower recovery of the Chinese market was due to visa disruptions, security perceptions and limited air connectivity.
To address these hurdles, the government reintroduced the Philippine electronic visa (e-Visa) in November 2025.
Department of Tourism China Attaché Ireneo Reyes said the move is expected to restore traveler confidence and ease entry for tourists, with stronger gains anticipated in early 2026.
“The e-Visa resumption is a critical step forward and a clear signal that the Philippines is open, ready, and eager to welcome our Chinese friends,” DOT China attaché Ireneo Reyes said.
“While its full impact was not felt during the peak booking periods of 2025, we expect more visible gains starting in the first quarter of 2026,” said Reyes.
Recovery has also been hindered by reduced flight capacity. Routes between China and the Philippines are operating at only about 45 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
The DOT said it is collaborating with airlines and aviation stakeholders to restore routes and seat capacity, noting that improving air connectivity represents a significant opportunity given China’s status as one of the world’s largest outbound travel markets.
The tourism sector has remained resilient despite market-specific challenges and budget constraints. The industry generated P3.86 trillion in receipts in 2024 and supported about 6.75 million tourism-related jobs.
