Philippines keeps 6.4M international arrivals target for 2026

The Philippines expects to reach at least 6.4 million international arrivals in 2026, Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay confirmed, citing expected travel demand in the fourth quarter. The statement was made at events and in interviews in October 2026 and has been noted by financial analysts supporting the projection.

Official projection and Maybank IB Research backing

Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said that, despite her concern over fuel prices and airfares, a volume decline is not the expectation and the target remains for 2026. Maybank IB Research included the comment in a Monday note: “The Department of Tourism expressed confidence in meeting its full-year target of 6.4-million to 6.8-million international visitor arrivals, supported by strong travel demand expected in the fourth quarter.”

Maybank’s cited range places the low target at 6.4 million and the high at 6.8 million international visitors for the 2026 calendar year.

Increase in Chinese tourists and measures to attract them (philippines tourism 2026)

Philippine Department of Tourism data show the Chinese tourist segment recorded the largest rise between January and August: 310,088 arrivals from that market, an increase of around 70% year‑on‑year. The Chinese recovery is an explicit factor in the department’s strategy to reach the annual figure.

The secretary said the country is seeking more charter connections and adjustments to entry facilities to ease arrivals of Chinese travellers. She said her department has arranged more than 10 additional charter flights to date to expand connections between China and Philippine cities, including routes to resort areas.

Visa changes and secondary airport operations ([regulation](/regulation))

The Philippine Department of Tourism has proposed extending a 14‑day visa‑free entry programme to cover Chinese tourists at secondary airports serving major destinations, in addition to the current large gateways. At present the 14‑day visa exemption for certain visitors operates only through Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila and Mactan‑Cebu International Airport in Cebu.

The destinations and airports the secretary proposed to include are Clark, Caticlan, Palawan and Bohol. The plan seeks to channel flows to alternative entry points that connect directly with attractions such as Boracay and other islands.

Safety, operators and specialised guides for Chinese tourists

Secretary Angara‑Mathay emphasised that opening the market will be accompanied by safety measures: “What we’ll do is get the tourists but make sure that there are safety nets,” she said at the event of foreign chambers of commerce in the Philippines.

Among the initiatives under consideration is the designation of tour operators and guides specialised for Chinese tourists to manage safety and communication concerns. The Department of Tourism envisions operational requirements and protocols that would facilitate dedicated service to this segment.

Infrastructure and casino openings in key destinations ([casino](/casino))

In Boracay, Kaban Hotel and Casino Boracay, described as the island’s first hotel‑casino complex to obtain a licence from the country’s gaming regulator, held a soft opening on 16 September; the date was confirmed to GGRAsia by a representative of the property. Boracay is a tourism hub where the mix of beaches and new lodging and gaming facilities could influence international demand.

Clark, on the island of Luzon, remains a resort‑casino hub and serves as an air alternative to Manila for certain source markets.

Commercial implications and next steps

The Department of Tourism’s strategy combines market measures — charters, visa expansion and specialised operators — with promotion of secondary airports to spread visitor flows. The secretary and analysts expect fourth‑quarter demand to be sufficient to offset frictions created by higher transport costs.

Execution of these measures will include agreements with charter airlines, coordination with airport authorities and definition of authorised lists of operators and guides to serve the Chinese segment. The outcome of those actions will determine whether the 6.4 million target is consolidated by the end of 2026.

“I was really super anxious about the fuel prices” and “I was afraid that it [volume] will go down, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think we can match it,” Dita Angara‑Mathay said in interviews reported by local media.

“The Department of Tourism expressed confidence in meeting its full‑year target of 6.4‑million to 6.8‑million international visitor arrivals,” Maybank IB Research recorded in its Monday summary.

What operators and destinations should watch

Hotel operators, resort managers and travel companies should monitor developments in visa exemptions and approvals for specialised operators. Charter routes and redistribution of arrivals to secondary airports can change destination demand and visitor spending profiles.

Investors in tourism infrastructure and casino operators will closely follow Boracay and Clark’s capacity to absorb increased footfall, and how safety measures and designated operators are implemented in practice.