The Philippines has welcomed 2.9 million foreign visitors from January 1 to June 16, 2026, led by those from the United States, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).
Preliminary figures released on Thursday, June 18, showed tourists from the U.S. reached 591,569 out of the country’s total inbound arrival of 2,955,014 during the period.
The DOT has yet to provide the full breakdown of top visitor arrivals, but said the U.S. “has now become our number one source market,” and it expects the figures to further grow.
At the general membership meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) on June 17, Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the DOT will intensify its push for more tourism and investment partnerships with the U.S.
“We no longer see tourism simply as promotion. We see it as a platform for long-term investment,” she said, citing as example the USD3.4 billion in investments, pipeline opportunities, and financial support the Philippines secured during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s recent state visit to Japan.
“This is the direction we are pursuing — tourism as a connector sector that brings together aviation, infrastructure, healthcare, and regional development.”
The DOT, she said, will also work closely with relevant government agencies to improve and expand air connectivity across the country.
“To make this more systematic, we will convene regular airline and airport connectivity discussions with carriers, airports, stakeholders, and government agencies. The goal is simple: solve bottlenecks together and turn plans into actual flights,” she added.
At the same time, Angara-Mathay said DOT would sustain efforts to develop the Philippines’ high-value tourism segments such as meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), gastronomy, wellness, education, and retirement tourism.
“Once people can get here more easily, the next question is what kind of experience we offer them. And that brings me to high-value tourism. Our goal is not simply to bring in more visitors, but to make every visit more meaningful, longer stays, higher spending, and deeper engagement with our destinations and communities,” she said.
Beyond hotels and resorts, Angara-Mathay encouraged AmCham members to explore other opportunities that support tourism destinations across the country, including in airports, ports, digital infrastructure, wellness facilities, and renewable energy projects.PNA
