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Philippines generates significant sales leads at 2026 Salon de la Plongée Sous-Marine
The Philippines generated over PHP80 million in sales leads during its stint at last month’s Salon de la Plongée Sous-Marine in Paris. According to the Department of Tourism (DOT), this year’s leads from the annual Paris dive show rose 43 percent compared to the PHP56 million sales leads secured last year. During the travel trade show held at the Parc des Expositions from 8th to 11th January,, the Philippine delegation showcased iconic dive sites in the country such as Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Bohol, Anilao, Cebu, Puerto Galera, Dumaguete, Ticao Island and Southern Leyte. Among the Philippine companies and agencies that participated in the show were Seadoors Liveaboard, Sea Explorers, Solitude Acacia Resort, Ticao Island Resort, Blue Lagoon Dive Resort, El Galleon Resort/Asia Divers, M/Y Resolute, Thalatta Resort, Casalay Boutique Villas and Dive Resort, Atmosphere Resorts & Spa, Magic Resorts Philippines, Abyssworld Philippines, Inc, Peter’s Dive Resort, and the Sogod Bay Scuba Resort. The event was attended by a diverse array of diving industry professionals, including associations, boats, diving centres, insurance providers, manufacturers, distributors, media, tourism offices, training organizations, dive operators, and travel agents. Immersive in more ways than one The Philippine pavilion featured immersive underwater photography panels from 12 DOT-accredited dive establishments to put spotlight on the Philippines' rich marine biodiversity, sustainability initiatives, and conservation-driven tourism programs. Southern Leyte’s Sogod Bay Dive Sites took centerstage as the Pavilion’s Featured Destination, showcasing Eastern Visayas’ growing profile as a conservation-oriented dive tourism hub. According to the Philippine Embassy in Paris, there were an estimated 350,000 scuba divers in France in 2024, ten percent of whom travel abroad for diving with tour operators.
HBX Group to bring MarketHub Asia to the Philippines next year
All roads lead to the Philippines in 2027 as HBX Group announced the country as the venue for the next run of MarketHub Asia. This is the first time that the event will be held in the Philippines and the announcement comes in the wake of MarketHub Asia 2026 in Bali, Indonesia. The sixth edition of HBX’s signature B2B travel tech conference expects to open its doors to around 400 client-partners, thought leaders, primary decision makers, and travel tech innovators from 16 international source markets come the first quarter of next year. A significant choice Chief distribution officer David Amsellem remarked that the Philippines stands out as a market with a great deal for the world to discover. Amsellem said: “There is real depth and diversity here, supported by an ecosystem that is increasingly ready to engage globally. MarketHub Asia 2027 allows us to connect that potential to our worldwide network in a meaningful, structured, and sustainable way.” The selection of the Philippines as host affirms the country’s steady advancement as a competitive Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) destination in Asia. Continued investments in convention infrastructure and event-ready facilities have strengthened the country’s capacity to stage high-level global events. At the same time, the Filipino culture of hospitality, characterized by warmth, professionalism, and attention to detail, adds a distinct human dimension that elevates every gathering into a meaningful and memorable experience.
Philippines pushes Higatangan Island as a luxury destination
Higatangan Island in the central Philippines stands to become one of the world’s newest luxury destinations. This stems from the possibility that the destination could be included in the 2027-2028 cruise season of French luxury cruise line Ponant. Higatangan’s potential inclusion in the season itinerary was brought up following a site assessment conducted by Ponant’s director of cruise research Sylvianne de Tracy, together with Intercruises commercial development manager Errol James Chicano, Travel People Ltd representative Vhino Alegarbes, and officials from the regional office of the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) last week. De Tracy and the team toured various parts of the island to evaluate its readiness as a cruise destination. Preliminary findings The assessment enabled the delegation to experience the island’s unique and authentic character first-hand. Indeed, participants were impressed by Higatangan Island’s pristine natural environment, scenic coastal landscapes, and rich cultural offerings. In a statement released on Friday, 30th January, the local government of Naval, Biliran where the island is located declared: “The visit represents a major step toward positioning Higatangan Island on the international cruise tourism map. If included in Compagnie du Ponant’s itinerary, the island is expected to gain increased global exposure and benefit from new tourism opportunities.” Local stakeholders also expressed optimism that the potential inclusion of Higatangan in the next cruise season would help boost sustainable tourism while preserving the island’s natural and cultural heritage. Prior to the inspection the Australian cruise ship MV Coral Geographer docked into Higatangan Island last 12th December, giving 80 guests a memorable and immersive cultural experience.
VFS: visa applications from Philippines up 8% in 2025
VFS Global reports that visa application volumes from the Philippines rose by eight percent year on year in 2025. The increase is attributed to renewed traveller confidence in exploring global destinations which, for Filipinos, includes Australia, Canada, Germany, Greece, Japan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and the UK. According to VFS Global’s regional head in North Asia Atul Lall: “This healthy rise in visa applications from the Philippines last year indicates that travellers' confidence has been restored and people are exploring their favourite global destinations again. We are confident that this positive travel momentum will sustain in 2026 as well. We urge applicants planning to travel overseas from the Philippines to apply for their visas in advance to avoid the last-minute rush.” Personalised services help spur on numbers Strong demand for personalised services, designed to enhance convenience for visa applicants, continued to be a defining trend in 2025 visa application patterns. Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD), a service that empowers applicants to complete their entire visa application submission process from the comfort of their homes or any other location of their choice, registered a significant 62 percent year-on-year increase in 2025. Similarly, the demand for Premium Lounge, an optional service which provides end-to-end personalised assistance with visa application submission from the comfort of a lounge, is rising with the rise in application volumes. Another service named Prime Time, which allows visa application submission outside of working hours and even on weekends, has seen a healthy adoption since the pandemic. Lall remarked: “We continue to see a healthy adoption of personalised services such as VAYD and Premium Lounge by discerning travellers post the pandemic due to health considerations. These services enhance the overall visa application experience for applicants by avoiding the need for them to stand in a queue. We foresee higher demand for such premium services prioritising safe travel this year as well.”
Philippines seeks more arrivals from North America, China, India, & MidEast
The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) plans to expand its promotions budget for several key and emerging markets in 2026, including the United States, South Korea, Canada, China, India and the Middle East. Tourism secretary Christina Frasco said the DOT intends to fully recover the South Korean market, which slipped to 1.34 million last year from 1.45 million in 2024. She added that the DOT will also capitalise on the US as one of the country’s most reliable markets to pull the arrival numbers for 2026. With regard to Canada, the DOT is optimistic that the new connections through Air Canada would bring in more Canadian tourists into the country. 2025 in a nutshell The Philippines recorded 6.4 million foreign visitors and returning overseas Filipinos in 2025, generating an estimated PHP694 billion in tourism receipts. Of this number, South Korea remains the top market, followed by the US with 1.32 million visitors, Japan with 469,521, Australia with 359,646, and Canada with 333,136. China ranked sixth with 237,101 while India ranked 11th with 104,994 visitors from January to December 2025. Into the east Looking ahead, the DOT will also ramp up promotional activity in China as the Philippines eases its visa policy for Chinese nationals, allowing them visa-entry of up to 14 days in the country. Frasco remarked: “China has been challenging, to say the least. So, for China specifically, we’re working with our Beijing and Shanghai offices plus the private sector. We will have a very specific targeted campaign in certain cities even as we work with the airlines to recover the pre-pandemic flights.” It was noted that inbound flights to the Philippines from China are only up to 50 percent of their pre-pandemic totals, so the new visa policy stands to be of good help. Likewise, the Philippines sees promising growth from the Middle East, particularly from the United Arab Emirates market whose leisure travelers coming into the country have increased significantly over the past year. UAE flag carrier Emirates is also requesting increased slots from the UAE to Manila as well as the retention or expansion of their Cebu and Clark flights.
Hotel101-Manila is the official residence for Miss World Philippines and Mr World Philippines 2026
Hotel101 Group recently signed an agreement with ALV Pageant Circle, organiser of the Miss World Philippines and Mr. World Philippines pageants. That said, the hotel will serve as both the official residence for the candidates, as well as the official venue for the events. Each candidate will stay in the hotel’s signature HappyRoom complete with modern amenities. In addition, the hotel’s well-maintained facilities such as the swimming pool and restaurant, and its central location make it the ideal home for the candidates leading up to the event. Supporting beauty with a purpose Hotel101 Group general manager Charley Magabo said following the signing: “Our partnership with the Miss World and Mr. World pageants is indicative of our shared mission to showcase the best of Filipino talents on the global stage. Hotel101-Manila is looking forward to providing comfort, convenience, and our signature brand of Filipino hospitality to the candidates.” ALV Pageant Circle president Arnold Vegafria likewise declared that the Miss World Philippines Organization is excited to partner with Hotel101. Vegafria said: "We look forward to many purposeful collaborations as we strive to live up to our Beauty With A Purpose advocacy, and as we align our visions for a mutually beneficial partnership that will extend beyond this pageant season.”
Philippines welcomed 6.4 million arrivals in 2025
The Philippines reports that it welcomed a total of 6.4 million arrivals as of 31st December 2025. The total covers both foreign visitors and returning overseas Filipinos who collectively generated a total of PHP694 billion in tourism receipts. Per the statement released by the Department of Tourism (DOT) based on data from the Bureau of Immigration (BI), foreigners made up 5,940,975; the total includes arrivals from both airlines and cruises. While sizable, the total number of foreign arrivals fell significantly short of the 8.4 million projected by the DOT in early 2025. Reasonable outcomes While arrival numbers have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, the DOT said the outcome was achieved despite global and domestic challenges, including travel alerts from key markets and fiscal constraints. The agency said tourism performance should not be measured by arrivals alone, citing strong domestic travel, value creation and job generation. Guided by the National Tourism Development Plan 2023–2028, the DOT said it remains focused on improving connectivity, safety, workforce skills and service standards.
ATPI Philippines is a league apart in marine travel management
Specialty Travel Agency of the Year for Marine Travel at the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards in Singapore. Yvette Araullo, Managing Director, ATPI – Philippines (right), receiving the award for Specialty Travel Agency of the Year for Marine Travel at the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards in Singapore. ATPI Philippines has been awarded the Specialty Travel Agency of the Year - Philippines for Marine Travel at the prestigious TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2025 - Asia. The recognition underscores the company’s over 30 years of marine travel know-how built to exacting demands and its industry-leading solutions and services that keep vessels moving and seafarers protected. The award was presented in a category recognising excellence in niche and specialised travel, honouring organisations that deliver tailored solutions for highly specific industry needs. The TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards – Asia represent the pinnacle of excellence in the travel industry, spotlighting organisations that consistently raise industry standards and enhance customer experiences through innovation, sustainable practices and service excellence. The award solidifies ATPI’s standing as a global leader in marine travel and logistics. “This award reflects ATPI Philippines’ long-standing reputation as a trusted partner to the shipping industry, blending global capability with local expertise and one that acts as a strategic extension of maritime operations,” said Yvette Araullo, Managing Director - ATPI Philippines. “We continue to invest through enhanced data visibility, flexible travel solutions, and strengthened partnerships and marine infrastructure whilst relying on advanced technology and highly skilled Filipino maritime specialists to ensure seamless global support across every time zone.” Supporting the world’s leading maritime workforce The Philippines ranks number one globally in supplying maritime crew, and ATPI Philippines plays a pivotal role in supporting this critical workforce. ATPI’s 24/7 World Support Centre in Makati is at the heart of the world’s largest seafarer talent pool, and its ability to balance operational efficiency with seafarer welfare sets the company apart in marine travel management. ATPI’s real-time data and technology-driven solutions are also best positioned to meet the demands of ship operators. These include proprietary breakthrough solutions such as the Traveler Tracking System, CrewHub and CrewLink, all of which offer seamless end-to-end management of crew travel. Together, these innovations push the maritime crew travel industry far beyond traditional practices, introducing groundbreaking solutions that address not only cost and compliance but also sustainability and seafarer wellbeing. In a high-stakes environment, ATPI Philippines’ 24/7 team blends cutting-edge technology, personalised service, and robust operational capabilities to manage intricate crew changes, time-critical itineraries, and large-scale operations. This results in a 98% marine client retention rate, up to 20% year-on-year savings, smarter crew rotation strategies, faster workflows, and high client satisfaction. In working with customers, ATPI Philippines identified opportunities to optimise booking behaviour across high-expense ports. By combining preferential marine fares with evidence-based practice changes, dedicated customers achieved a 17% reduction in cost that has been maintained annually. The company’s analysis of another leading shipping company’s Philippines crew change patterns saw the latter strategically shift their off-signing activities from North and South America to Asia, leading to Asian off-signers increasing by 8% year-over-year from January to September 2025 and delivering both cost savings and improved operational efficiency. “The Specialty Travel Agency of the Year - Philippines for Marine Travel award is a testament to ATPI Philippines’ long-term impact on the way the maritime industry now approaches crew travel. Clients are increasingly adopting ATPI’s people-first itinerary design standards that advocate seafarer wellbeing, gradually shifting industry expectations away from cost-driven decisions toward holistic crew welfare, which in turn delivers tangible safety benefits that extend across entire fleets,” said Ali Hussain, Regional Managing Director, ATPI Asia. To ensure ATPI Philippines stays ahead of the industry, the company will deepen their sector specialisation, invest in the latest AI and data-driven technology and expand end-to-end crew change capabilities to further streamline client operations whilst continuing to focus on long-term value for shipowners, operators, and the crews who keep global trade moving. ATPI was acquired by Direct Travel in September 2025, strengthening their position with expanded global resources and technology infrastructure across a combined travel volume of over US$6b. It also bolsters ATPI Philippines’ capabilities whilst preserving local advantages: fast response times, cultural fluency and strong port authority relationships that ensure compliance, efficiency, and a better crew experience. The TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2025 - Asia is presented by Travel Daily Media Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. For more information on the awards programme, you may contact Danica Avila at (+65) 3158 1386 or danica@traveldailymedia.com.
Philippines promotes Sogod Bay as global dive destination
The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) is positioning Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte as a rising global dive destination following a showcase of the area’s underwater attractions at Salon de la Plongée 2026, one of the world’s biggest diving expos. DOT regional director for the Eastern Visayas Karina Rosa Tiopes declared in a statement released on Monday, 12th January, that the international exhibition held from the 8th to the 11th of this month gave the region a strategic platform to directly engage the global dive market and attract more foreign dive tourists. Tiopes said: “This is the second time that we have joined Salon de la Plongée. Our main goal is to expand our reach into the dive market and ultimately increase arrivals of dive enthusiasts.” She further explained that Sogod Bay’s participation underscores the country’s commitment to developing sustainable and high-quality dive tourism, whilst positioning the destination as a must-visit destination within the Philippines’ diverse marine landscape. Active engagement The Sogod Bay promotion was conducted through the DOT Philippines Pavilion, where the spotlight was cast on its rich marine biodiversity. Key dive stakeholders from Eastern Visayas also participated in the event, including representatives of Sogod Bay Scuba Resort and Peter’s Dive Resort, who engaged with visitors and provided firsthand information on the region’s unique underwater attractions. Following the event, DOT officials expressed optimism that the exposure in Paris will translate into increased international arrivals and stronger recognition of Sogod Bay as one of the Philippines’ next top dive hotspots.
Philippines’ Hundred Islands National Park reports over 377,000 guests in 2025
Officials at the Hundred Islands National Park in the northern Philippines report that the park drew in 377,968 tourists in 2025. The total was further broken down as 366,228 domestic tourists, and 11,740 foreign guests. Most tourists visited in April and May, with over 65,000 arrivals each month over the course of the year. Located in Alaminos City, Pangasinan, the park generated a total PHP43.8 million in income despite a slight 2.1 percent drop from the previous year. City tourism officer Miguel Sison attributed this relatively minor decrease to weather disturbances in the latter half of the year. Ongoing marketing and maintenance Assistant tourism officer Rosalie Aruelo declared in the vernacular: “Promotions and marketing are ongoing, along with the maintenance of existing sites.” Likewise, the park introduced a number of new attractions in the past year, including a Bonsai Garden on Pilgrimage Island and various water activities. The city also looks forward to the opening of the PHP249.8-million Sky Garden project, a flagship development expected to boost tourism and create jobs.
Philippines Department of Tourism (PDOT)
Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines Philippines
Movenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu – Philippines
Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu Punta Engaño Mactan Island, Cebu Philippines
24/7 Customer Philippines, Inc.
Philippines
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