The Department of Tourism (DOT) lauded the President for his decisive action in expediting e-visa processing for Indian nationals which is seen to boost tourism arrivals from India, a key market for the Philippines.
“We are confident that this initiative will have a positive impact on the Philippine tourism industry. We are committed to providing a warm and welcoming experience for all our visitors, and this streamlined e-visa process is a testament to that commitment,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.
According to the DOT, the new process will reduce the time and effort required to obtain a visa, making it more convenient for Indian tourists to plan their trips.
India is a major source market for the Philippine tourism industry, with a growing number of Indian tourists visiting the country each year. In 2019, before the pandemic, over 170,000 Indian tourists visited the Philippines, contributing significantly to the economy.
The DOT is collaborating closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to guarantee the seamless implementation of the new e-visa process, with the DFA already training its personnel on the new procedures, and the streamlined process expected to be fully operational in the coming weeks.
Allowing e-visa processing is expected to boost government efforts to revitalize the tourism sector, the DOT said.