The Philippines already earned over US$1B or over ₱65 billion in January 2025, exceeding the pre-pandemic level in 2019 and signaling the recovery of the country’s tourism industry from the ill effects of the pandemic, reported the Department of Tourism (DOT).
For the month of January alone this year, the country already gained a total of US$1B or ₱65.3 billion from various activities, products and services related to tourism, according to data from the DOT as of 28 February 2025.
The amounts were already higher than the US$821 million or ₱43 billion recorded in January 2019.
When compared to the revenues in January 2019, the income of the Philippines in tourism in January this year already exceeded the pre-pandemic income levels by an impressive 136.1 percent in terms of US dollar and 151.46 percent in terms of Philippine peso.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco noted that the surge of income for Philippine tourism is a sign that the industry is not only bouncing back from the pandemic but is also evolving and expanding, contributing significantly to the country’s economic stability and growth.
“The recovery of Philippine tourism from the period of the pandemic in terms of revenues translates to thousands of jobs created for Filipinos, providing livelihood opportunities for many, especially in our rural and underserved areas,” said the Tourism Chief.
She added such a growth was in line with the Marcos administration’s goal of making tourism “inclusive and equitable” that would empower local entrepreneurs and communities.
Also, Secretary Frasco reported the January 2025 record of income for tourism surpassed revenues tallied in January 2024.
Compared to the January 2025 record, the country’s tourism income grew by 71.4 percent in terms of US dollar, recorded at US$652,255,773.51 in January 2024. In Philippine peso, the revenue also soared by 78.81 percent from ₱36,508,238,043 in January 2024.
The DOT recorded the Philippines’ tourism revenues based on Visitor Sample Surveys, records from the previous Arrival/Departure Cards, Shipping Manifests, and the current eTravel System.
In 2024, Secretary Frasco reported the Philippines achieved an all-time high tourism revenue of approximately 760 billion in 2024, making tourism a vital pillar of the country’s economy.
The Tourism Chief vowed the DOT would ensure the resilience and strength of the Philippine tourism industry with more tourists finding many reasons to love the Philippines. “As we move forward, our commitment to advancing Philippine tourism remains steadfast. We will continue to work hand-in-hand with industry stakeholders to innovate and promote the many reasons to Love the Philippines,” she said.
Meanwhile, the DOT disclosed that a total of 1,167,908 foreign travelers visited the Philippines in the first two months of 2025.
Over a quarter or 25.31 percent of the total figure came from South Korea with 295,611 tourists, based on DOT data as of March 1, 2025. South Korea has been the Philippines’ top source of tourists since 2023, which is expected to boost further with the appointment of South Korean star Seo In-Guk as “celebrity tourism ambassador for the Philippines” in February this year.
Following South Korea was United States of America with 229,836 travelers, Japan with 83,208 tourists, Canada with 65,145 visitors, and Australia with 61,564 guests.
The Philippines also welcomed 53,545 tourists from China, 41,388 from Taiwan, 34,451 from the United Kingdom, 29,352 from Singapore, and 21,252 from France.
