The Department of Tourism (DOT) will continue to push for trailblazing initiatives that would make the industry soar to new heights, Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said on Wednesday (June 11).
This follows the release of country-specific 2025 Economic Impact Research (EIR) forecast by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) on Monday.
Specifically, the WTTC projects the tourism sector to contribute Php 5.9 trillion to the national economy this year, representing a 13.5 percent increase from 2019. According to WTTC, the projected figure will be “a new all-time high” and will represent more than one-fifth (21%) of national GDP, cementing Travel & Tourism’s place as a backbone of the Philippine economy.
“The Philippines is a standout example of how Travel & Tourism, when supported by a clear, long-term vision, can deliver real economic impact and long-term opportunity. This success speaks to the country’s extraordinary appeal, its policy focus on tourism as a growth engine, and the energy of its people and private sector,” WTTC President and CEO Julia Simpson said in a release.
“This success speaks to the country’s extraordinary appeal, its policy focus on tourism as a growth engine, and the energy of its people and private sector,” the WTTC official added.
According to Secretary Frasco, such projections affirm the DOT’s resolve to elevate the Philippines as a tourism powerhouse in Asia under the Marcos administration.
“We are grateful that the strategic shift to elevate the status of Philippine tourism by leveraging on our culture, diversifying our tourism products, introducing innovations, and focusing on quality and sustainability in tourism, is bearing fruit, with tourism spending and employment now in record high numbers. Our collaborations with our public and private sector stakeholders have been instrumental in these wins for the Philippines, as has been the hard work of millions in the tourism sector in our destinations and communities all over the country,” Secretary Frasco said.
“We at the Department of Tourism are committed to working even harder as we continue to roll out initiatives that will elevate the industry to new heights, creating a vibrant landscape for growth and sustainable livelihood for Filipinos,” she added.
In the same report, the WTTC projects employment in the sector to continue to grow in 2025, “with 11.7 million livelihoods expected to be supported by Travel & Tourism, accounting for almost a quarter (23.8%) of all national employment”.
WTTC also projects that international visitor spending will reach Php 709.2 billion – up 2.1% on the previous high in 2019. Meanwhile, it also anticipates that domestic visitor spending will reach Php 4.1 trillion – “a 9.3% increase over its previous peak”.
Data from the Labor Force Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in April 2024 revealed that 16.4 million Filipinos, or 34% of the total workforce in the first quarter, are benefitting directly or indirectly from tourism.
Last year, the Philippine tourism industry also earned an all-time high record of Php760 billion in international visitor receipts, surpassing the pre-pandemic level of Php 600 billion visitor receipts in 2023.
Under the leadership of Secretary Frasco, the industry experienced significant growth and development through the DOT’s flagship programs aimed at elevating tourism in the country.
The DOT expanded the country’s tourism portfolio to banner Gastronomy, Halal and Muslim-friendly, Heritage and Culture, Dive, Sports, Golf, Health and Wellness Tourism, and Film Tourism, among others.
It was also under the current administration that United Airlines, Air Canada, Air France, and Air India launched their direct flights to and from Manila, a move that is greatly beneficial to the country’s tourism industry.
The DOT, through the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), is poised to construct about a hundred Tourist Rest Areas (TRA) across strategic locations in the country to enhance the tourist experience. To empower local government units and enjoin their active participation in tourism development, the DOT also launched the Tourism Champions Challenge (TCC) aimed at championing tourism initiatives from the grassroots. The Hop-On Hop-Off bus tours were launched to provide seamless tours around key cities in Metro Manila.
The Philippine Experience Program: Heritage, Culture, and Arts Caravan (PEP) was also launched nationwide to showcase the tourism potential of emerging and popular destinations. Since its introduction, the PEP has been expanded through the DOT’s partnership with Klook, with itineraries and travel packages now available through the global travel platform.
Likewise, the travel hotline 151-TOUR (151-8687) and an enhanced Travel App Philippines were also launched to assist visitors with all travel-related concerns and queries.
In 10 years, the global tourism body projects that the Philippines’ travel and tourism sector will deliver Php 9.2 trillion to the economy, and about 2.5 million new jobs.
“As the country continues to strengthen air connectivity, invest in infrastructure, and prioritise destination resilience, Travel & Tourism is positioned not just to grow, but to transform the national economy,” the WTTC said in its report, calling on “policymakers to continue fostering this trajectory with clear regulation, long-term investment in workforce development, and sustained global promotion of the Philippines as a world-class destination”.
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