Foreign tourist arrivals to the Philippines slip in Q1 of 2025
The Philippines received 1.65 million international visitors in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting a marginal 0.51 percent drop compared to the same period last year. According to the Department of Tourism (DOT), 1.53 million of these were foreign tourists, with the remaining 123,760 classified as overseas Filipinos; they are Philippine passport holders who permanently reside abroad. This marked a 2.42 percent decline in foreign tourist arrivals, slightly cushioned by a 31.3 percent rise in overseas Filipino visits.
Despite the relatively stable overall numbers, the total remains 25 percent below pre-pandemic levels recorded in the first quarter of 2019. However, the number of overseas Filipinos visiting the country has more than tripled since 2019, reflecting a notable return of the diaspora.
South Korea remains top source despite drop
South Korea continued to be the Philippines’ top tourist market, with 395,059 arrivals during the quarter. This, however, marked a 13.9 percent decrease from the same period in 2024. The decline in South Korean arrivals contributed heavily to the overall contraction in international tourist numbers.
The United States held second place with 285,597 visitors, a 7.9 percent increase year-on-year. Japan moved into third place with 125,083 arrivals, up 18.73 percent. Australia and Canada followed, with gains of 13 percent and 14.4 percent, respectively.
In contrast, arrivals from mainland China fell sharply by 33.7 percent to 72,665, relegating it to sixth place among the country’s top source markets. Visitor arrivals from the United Kingdom, Taiwan, and Germany also saw either minimal growth or modest declines.
India’s market growth hindered by costs, lack of connectivity
Arrivals from India declined by 6.6 percent to 21,872 despite the availability of electronic tourist visas. According to local media reports, travel industry representatives pointed to the lack of direct flights and high travel costs as key deterrents for Indian tourists. Feedback from Indian travellers suggests that financial and logistical challenges continue to outweigh improvements in visa processing.
Tourism targets may be recalibrated
The DOT had earlier set a target of 8.4 million tourist arrivals for 2025 under the National Tourism Development Plan (2023–2028), a 9 percent increase from the previous year’s goal. However, with 2024’s actual tourist arrivals reaching only 5.95 million, falling short of the 7.7 million target, the department is now reconsidering its expectations for the coming years.
March records the lowest monthly arrivals
Monthly data showed that March saw the lowest number of arrivals for the quarter at 486,171, compared to 626,900 in January and 541,008 in February. This downward trend underlines the challenges faced by the Philippine tourism sector in maintaining consistent growth amid shifting travel patterns and geopolitical influences.
With uneven performances across key markets, the outlook for Philippine tourism remains cautious as authorities assess strategies to attract more international travellers in the remainder of the year. Last year, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) said it implemented an ambitious expansion plan for integrated resort casinos across the country.
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