Travel tax abolition bill gets fresh push in Congress

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has welcomed the House Committee on Tourism’s approval on Feb. 23, 2026 of a measure abolishing the travel tax, similar to his Senate Bill No. 424 filed in July 2025.

The panel cited the need to make travel more affordable and improve the country’s tourism competitiveness.

Cayetano said the travel tax has become an added burden for families and workers traveling for work, study, or to reunite with loved ones. His bill seeks to encourage travel, ease financial strain, boost tourism, and promote mobility within ASEAN.

The senator described the travel tax, imposed under Presidential Decree No. 1183 nearly five decades ago, as outdated and no longer aligned with current economic realities. The measure also proposes exempting ASEAN nationals from the levy in line with the 2002 ASEAN Tourism Agreement.

While abolition may mean foregone revenues, studies cited in the bill show increased travel and tourism spending could generate bigger economic gains.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier urged Congress to pass a measure scrapping the travel tax before the session ends.IMT