Philippines projects tourist arrivals to reach 6.7 million in 2026

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Philippines tourist arrivals 2026

Highlights

Philippines Department of Tourism targets 6.7 million tourist arrivals in 2026, a 3% year-on-year increase from 6,484,060 in 2025.
Daily foreign arrivals currently average 12,000–13,000 and peaked at 26,000 in October, boosted by international events such as the JCI World Congress and ASEAN Summit.
Restoration of limited turboprop slots at Ninoy Aquino International Airport under review to address costly and difficult domestic connectivity and support travel sector growth.

Year-end target backed by travel demand

As reported by BusinessWorld Online, the Department of Tourism said on Thursday that it remains optimistic the Philippines will meet its 6.7 million tourist arrival target by year-end as travel demand rises in the fourth quarter.

Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the target implies a 3% year-on-year increase. In 2025, total foreign visitor arrivals, including returning Overseas Filipinos, reached 6,484,060.

She said the agency's dashboard shows daily passenger arrivals have increased over the past month even as airfare hikes and oil price increases raise travel costs. Daily arrivals are running at about 12,000 to 13,000, and reached 26,000 in October, which she said supports expectations that the annual goal remains within reach.

International conferences are also adding to inbound traffic. These include the Junior Chamber International World Congress 2026 from Nov. 11 to 15 and the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings from Nov. 16 to 18.

The tourism chief said November alone is bringing around 10,000 delegates with their families, while the JCI World Congress in Clark is expected to draw more than 6,000 representatives from 120 countries.

Airport access and domestic travel constraints

The department is also seeking to restore limited turboprop slots at Ninoy Aquino International Airport to support domestic connectivity, which officials say has become more difficult and expensive for travelers.

Angara-Mathay said access to destinations such as Clark remains challenging, especially while rail links are not yet operational. She argued that added travel friction is discouraging aspirational trips by local passengers as costs increase.

All commercial scheduled turboprop flights have been moved from NAIA to provincial hubs since Mar. 29 as part of efforts to decongest air traffic and reduce delays for larger jet airliners. Any partial return of turboprop operations at the main gateway could ease onward travel within the country while the tourism sector pursues stronger visitor and domestic mobility numbers.

Our earlier article on the Philippines expanding access to Malaysia’s halal market explained how an additional Philippine halal certification body gained recognition from Malaysia’s JAKIM, giving exporters more options to meet a key overseas standard. We also noted this fits into a broader national push to develop the halal economy—relevant not only for trade and investment, but also for tourism—by strengthening certification infrastructure that can support Muslim-friendly travel growth.

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