The Department of Tourism (DOT) is targeting 6.4 million to 6.8 million international visitor arrivals for full-year 2026, with a stretch goal of reaching seven million, as expanded visa-free access for Chinese tourists could help sustain the Philippine tourism recovery amid geopolitical tensions and higher fuel costs.
Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the Philippines recorded 4,112,488 international arrivals from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31 based on e-Travel data. The figure is considered conservative because it does not yet fully capture returning overseas Filipinos reflected in Bureau of Immigration statistics.
“So gusto natin 6.4 million to 6.8 million. Tapos kung maka-seven million tayo, I’ll really have a very nice Christmas,” Mathay said.
Mathay said matching last year’s 6.4-million arrivals would already be a satisfactory outcome given the conflict in the Middle East and elevated oil prices, which account for a substantial share of airline operating costs.
Recent trends, however, have made the DOT more optimistic about meeting or slightly exceeding that level. Reaching seven million would represent an upside from the department’s core 2026 target range.
A major opportunity is the proposed expansion of visa-free entry for organized Chinese tour groups beyond Manila and Cebu to other gateways, including Clark, Caticlan, Bohol, and Palawan.
Mathay said the existing visa-free arrangement had already generated a 69-percent increase in Chinese arrivals, highlighting its potential to deliver more traffic if extended to additional destinations.
“If we get all the other agencies to sign up on this, then we can expect a lot more chartered flights from China and a lot more arrivals,” she said.
The DOT is coordinating with airlines on potential charter services while seeking the concurrence of security agencies for the expanded arrangement.
This makes the distinction clear: 6.4 million to 6.8 million is the 2026 target range, while 7 million is the stretch outcome.
