Philippines

Super Typhoon Man-yi (local name: Pepito) hit the Philippines on 17 Nov, with 1.2 million fleeing their homes with warnings of a “life-threatening” impact. The typhoon first hit Catanduanes, where no deaths have been reported but large-scale infrastructure damage, and then Luzon, the main island

Typhoon Usagi made landfall in Baggao, Cagayan Province at 1.30pm with winds of 175kmh, making it the 5th storm to hit the Philippines in just 3 weeks. These disasters have caused 159 casualties and the United Nations will request $32.9 million US in aid to the worst-affected regions. Officials worked to evacuate residents along the coasts of Cagayan. After Usagi, Tropical Storm Man-yi will make landfall on 17 Nov. UN’s assessment of the past month’s disasters said they have damaged 207,000 houses, and nearly 700,000 people were seeking temporary shelter

BMI Country Risk & Industry Research, a Fitch Solutions Company, projects that the Philippines’ tourism arrival could reach 8.3 million in 2025, 101.1% of pre-pandemic levels. BMI said that based on Jan-Oct 2024 arrival data, the Philippines is expected to welcome 6 million tourists in 2024. BMI said the Philippines is expected to record 14.8% growth annually until 2028, when tourist arrivals are expected to reach 9.7 million. BMI said the Department of Tourism (DOT) figure of 4.5 million tourists, +10% YoY, is significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels. BMI said Jan-Oct 2024 tourist arrivals are only 66.5% of pre-pandemic levels

Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines (SIA) will increase flight frequencies between Jakarta and Singapore in Q4 2024. SIA will operate 8 flights daily from 22 Nov, up from 6 flights it currently offers. Garuda Indonesia will operate 6 flights daily from 1 Dec, up from the current 4 flights. The two airlines will extend their codeshare agreement to include the new services. They currently offer codeshare flights between Singapore and Denpasar, Jakarta, Medan, and Surabaya and on Singapore-London and Mumbai routes. By 1 Dec, the airlines will operate 390 weekly codeshare services, including 362 between Singapore-Indonesia. In Q1 2025, both airlines will allow GarudaMiles and KrisFlyer members to earn and redeem miles on codeshare routes. The airlines will offer join fare products in Q1 2025

The President said the ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos), Internet gambling, and other similar establishments will cover the entire Philippines including those within economic zones and under the control of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor). All establishments will be closed by 31 Dec

The Seatrade Cruise (STC) Asia 2024 was held at Okada Manila in Paranaque City. The President in his speech said in 2023 the Philippines welcomed more than 100 cruise calls in multiple destinations. He said the Philippines is expecting 109 port calls in 2024 and some confirmed schedules until 2027

People from 2,500 villages in the northern Philippines were evacuated on 11 Nov due to Typhoon Toraji. The typhoon is expected to hit the Luzon region. The President skipped the Asia Pacific Cooperation forum in Peru to oversee recovery efforts in the Philippines

Typhoon Toraji hit northern Aurora Province on 11 Nov morning with sustained winds of 130 km/h. This storm came just days after Typhoon Yinxing affected Luzon, which caused 278 million PHP in damages. Toraji is the 15th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines in 2024

The Department of Tourism (DOT) will work with Klook and other agencies through its Philippines Experience Program (PEP) to promote lesser-known destinations in the Philippines, particularly in the Caraga Region of Mindanao. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will be signed alongside with travel agencies including from Cebu

The President signed the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Act to boost company-based skills training programs for Filipino workers. The President said this law will address training and skill mismatches and will improve the employment situation in the Philippines

The Campuestohan Highland Resort in Negros Occidental Province added its chicken-shaped building to the Gunness Book of World Records as the “biggest chicken-shaped building in the world”. The building is 12m wide, 28m long, and 35m tall with 13 floors and features 15 rooms

Typhoon Yinxing made landfall on 7 Nov, bringing strong winds and intense rainfall to Luzon. Authorities warned on 8 Nov that “life-threatening conditions persist” in parts of Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte

The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. (AmCham) organised the AmCham Tourism Summit 2024 on 13 Nov at the Sheraton Manila Hotel in Pasay City under the theme of “Elevating Philippine Tourism and Infrastructure for Global Competitiveness”. The summit will explore the Philippines’ tourism potential including medical and sustainable tourism and will focus on security and disaster preparedness for safer travel experiences

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, in partnership with the Department of Tourism Central Visayas Regional Office, organised the ‘Love the Philippines Japan Mega Familiarisation Tour’ from 24-27 Oct. The event hosted 76 Japanese travel agents, corporate buyers, educational tourism agents, and media representatives. The tour aligns with TPB’s commitment to sustainability and inclusivity by engaging with micro-entrepreneurs to create eco-friendly, community-based tourism kits. The participants joined a B2B networking session at the Fili Hotel NUSTAR Cebu Ballroom where 98 Philippine sellers promoted their latest products and services to the Japanese market. During this session, 2,459 business exchanges were recorded with a value of 31,633,449 PHP in potential revenue. The tour covered Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo, Boracay, Palawan, and Davao. From Jan-Oct 2024, 293,658 Japanese visited the Philippines, taking the third spot with 6.62% of total international visitors

Philippine Statistics Authority said the Philippines' economy grew by 5.2% in Q3 2024, lower than 6% recorded in Q3 2023 due to the impact of bad weather. The average GDP growth from Jan-Sep 2024 is at 5.8% below the government’s 6%-7% full-year target. Services and industry contributed 4.1 and 1.3 percentage points to the 5.2% growth rate. Services and industry recorded 6.3% and 5% YoY growth, respectively. From Jan-Oct 2024, the average inflation was recorded at 3.3% within the government’s target of 2%-4%. Unemployment dropped to 3.7% in Sep, but underemployment increased to 11.9%. In Q3 2024, only Vietnam reported a higher GDP of 7.4% among Asian economies, while Indonesia reported 4.9% followed by China (4.6%) and Singapore (4.1%)

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) data shows the recent tropical cyclones have caused 158 reported deaths. But the agency said only 21 reported deaths were confirmed, 134 were injured, and 21 are missing. NDRRMC said due to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine and Typhoon Leon, 9,071,540 people or 2,309,494 families were affected

WTM Global Travel Report 2024 found international leisure tourist spending in the Philippines is predicted to increase by 101% by 2030. Tourism Economics, a unit of Oxford Economics, prepared this report. Tourism Economics’s Managing Director said the Asian region is lagging in tourist arrival numbers due to the slow recovery of China, but it is still posting the most rapid growth compared to other regions. He said outbound travel by Chinese tourists is -28% vs pre-pandemic levels. The Philippines is expected to miss its 7.7 million inbound tourism target in 2024 due to slow arrival from China

The Secretary for the Department of Tourism (DOT) presented the Philippines’ progress in using artificial intelligence (AI) for sustainable tourism at the World Travel Market (WTM) Ministers’ Summit in London. She said the Philippines is moving forward with tourism innovation through its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Roadmap 2.0, which led to the establishment of a Center for AI Research. The centre focuses on disaster resilience, sustainable agriculture, and urban planning. She said, “While we embrace AI, we ensure the 'human touch' remains, as Filipino hospitality is a core strength that sets our tourism industry apart”. She said the private sector widely uses DOT’s AI integration like smart hotel systems and AI-driven waste management to improve visitors’ experiences and promote sustainability. She highlighted other services by DOT such as the Hop-On Hop-Off bus tours, Tourist Assistance Call Center, and the Travel Philippines app which uses technologies like GPS to make travel more accessible and enjoyable

The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) distributed hospitality kits to homestay operators in Biliran, Eastern Visayas on 5 Nov to help them make the homestay more appealing to tourists. 29 operators including 18 from Higatangan Island in Naval and 11 from Maripipi received the kits. The kit contains towels, linen, pillows, and blankets. All recipients completed 7-day homestay training provided by the DOT in Mar 2024

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the rice inflation print in Oct is at 9.6%, up from 5.7% in Sep. The President said the government will intervene to provide consumers access to affordable rice. The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Irrigation Administration will expand the P29 Rice-for-All program and increase the Kadiwa ng Pangula centres from 21 to 300 by mid-2025. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the latest inflation is within 2%-2.8% forecast in month-ahead inflation expectations

The Philippines took part in the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, UK from 5-7 Nov. Before the pandemic, the Philippines welcomed 776,603 visitors from Europe with the UK alone recording 209,206 tourists, accounting for 27% of all tourists. From Jan-Oct 2024, the Philippines recorded 128,235 tourists from the UK. The Philippines’ stand in WTM incorporates sustainable Indigenous materials such as rattan, bamboo, and solihiya, to highlight the Philippines' commitment to eco-friendly practices. This also showcases Filipino craftsmanship and symbolises the country’s direction towards sustainable tourism

The Philippines is preparing for Typhoon Yinxing by ordering evacuations, stockpiling food, and putting soldiers on standby. The National Weather Agency predicts the storm could hit land between 7 Nov evening and 8 Nov morning around Cagayan province. The Civil Defence Administrator said 24 million people could be affected by the typhoon. This is the third storm to hit the Philippines in 3 months after Storm Trami and Super Typhoon Kong-Rey. Around 20 tropical storms make landfall annually in the Philippines

Moody’s Analytics projects Philippine GDP growth to slow to 5.7% in Q3 2024, from 6.3% recorded in Q2 2024. This would be the slowest since the 5.5% recorded in Q4 2023. Inflation is expected to come in at 2.3% in Oct 2024 vs 1.9% in Sep 2024. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said higher prices of food items such as vegetables, fruits, and fish will increase inflation in Oct

Cebu Province will fund a tourist rest area (TRA) in Pinamungajan town, which is slated to be opened in Dec with an investment of 7-8 million PHP. The TRA will be located in Barangay Pandacan and will offer a tourist information centre, lounge area, coffee shops, charging stations, restrooms, showers, and a souvenir centre for local goods

Skyscanner has ranked Panglao, Bohol in 8th place in its list of top 10 trending destinations for 2025. Panglao recorded a 77% increase in flight searches in H1 2024

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said 30,157 passengers were recorded going through ports in the Philippines on 4 Nov after All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day long weekend. PCG said 16,554 outbound passengers and 13,603 inbound passengers were recorded in Philippine ports. PCG deployed 4,199 frontline personnel, and 16 PCG Districts inspected 176 vessels and 65 motorbancas

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) said the 14TH Regional Travel Fair (RTF) in Roxas City, Capiz generated 348.5 million PHP in sales leads. The fair was held from 18-20 Oct and raised 20.67 million PHP in actual negotiated sales. 65 sellers and 49 buyers joined the B2B sessions, which facilitated 5,167 business appointments. The B2C sessions on 19-20 Oct at Robinsons Roxas attracted 4,000 visitors

According to Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2025 report, interest from Australians in visiting Busuanga in 2025 increased by 125%

The Bureau of Immigration saw a 12% increase in international travel on 31 Oct and 1 Nov, seeing 167,539 pax, higher than 2023’s 149,257. On 31 Oct, it saw 41,078 arrivals and 43,341 departures, with NAIA Terminal 1 seeing 14,010 arrivals and 15,666 departures and T3 19,223 arrivals and 20,495 departures. On 1 Nov, there were 42,858 arrivals and 40,261 departures

The Malay municipal government has stated that it had not yet received a formal notice to build a bridge connecting Boracay to the mainland, after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) received the “an unsolicited project proposal” from San Miguel Holdings Corp. It would be a 1.2km limited access bridge. Members of the Caticlan-Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CBTMPC) are opposed to the development, saying that they have taken loans out of 500 million PHP to invest in 48 fibreglass boats to comply with new modernisation rules in 2021, and this development could make them obsolete. The cooperative also warned about the environmental impact of making it easier to access the island. They organised protests, and the DPWH have countered that the bridge is seen to facilitate commuters, solid waste, goods and supplies

The North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) Corp. is preparing for an influx of over 470,000 motorists travelling to Central Luzon and North Luzon for the All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day holiday. NLEx has deployed around 1,500 personnel to manage traffic along NLEx, the NLEx Connector and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx). A 10% increase in daily traffic volume is expected on the three expressway, bringing the number to around 473,000 vehicles

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said that the Philippine economy may lose as much as 3.7% of its GDP in 2030, 8.8% by 2050, and 18.1% by 2070 under a “high-emissions scenario”. Sea level rise could cost the Philippines $1.4-$9.7 billion in 2035; $4.8-$41.2 billion in 2050; and $29-$158.3 billion in 2070. Sea level rise could also affect around 462,000-1.97 million Filipinos in 2035; 736,100-3.86 million Filipinos in 2050; and 1.53-6.83 million Filipinos in 2070

AirAsia MOVE, Visa and Landbank are partnering to offer discounts to government employees for flights and hotels, with a 500 PHP discount on AirAsia flights with a minimum spend of 5,000 PHP

The DOT announced that the Philippines has welcomed 4,879,022 million international visitors as of 1 Nov, with the UK the top European source market at 128,660 arrivals. The Philippines will exhibit at WTM London with their largest delegation of tour operators, hotels and resorts

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that the number of deaths from Tropical Storm Kristine has risen to 145. It added that 115 people were injured and 37 were reported missing. The tropical storm has displaced over 761,000 people, with more than 333,000 staying in evacuation centres. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported that Kristine displaced 251,000 workers, mostly in Bicol and Calabarzon. DOLE aims to extend emergency employment to over 83,000 typhoon-affected workers in Bicol. The Department of Social Welfare and Development said that the UAE has pledged to donate 33,000 family food packs for the victims

The Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) have partnered with Junior Chamber International (JCI)-Daraga to distribute relief goods to families impacted by Typhoon Trami

The Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) will impose a “one entry, one exit” rule and a speed limit for vessels operating between Boracay Island and Malay town in the mainland to improve maritime safety and order in the busiest sea lanes in Western Visayas

PAGASA reported that Tropical Cyclone Leon (Kong-rey) has developed into a super typhoon. Leon is 260km east of Calayan, Cagayan and sustained winds of 185km/h. PAGASA is also not ruling out the possibility that Leon may make landfall in Batanes on 31 Oct. It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on 31 Oct evening or 1 Nov early morning

Siargao will hold the 28th International Surfing Cup, with 200 surfers from 17 countries, from 26 Oct to 4 Nov. The event this year has been qualified as a QS5000, the highest rank competition Siargao has ever hosted

The Department of Transportation is expecting 4.5 million travellers for the All Saints’ and All Souls Day holidays. The Transportation Secretary said they are preparing for a surge of passengers at airports, seaports, and bus terminals. He said they are expecting 1-1.5 million bus passengers to travel during the holiday. He said the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Philippine Ports Authority, and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) are ready to manage the passengers. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport operator said they are working with the MIAA and the other government agencies to ensure a smooth and safe travel for passengers. DOTr expects at least 3 million passengers for airports and seaports

The Department of Tourism (DOT) will look into ways to help tourism workers and establishments affected by Tropical Storm Kristine. DOT helped 529 tourists stranded in various parts of the country during the storm. As of 26 Oct, 231 tourists in Batanes have been flown out of Basco and the remaining 140 tourists will take the succeeding flights to other destinations. DOT also reported that 14 tourist sites sustained damages from the storm, including those in Sorsogon, Masbate, Batangas, and the Dinagat Islands

The Tourism Secretary said that the President wants to “create ample livelihood and employment opportunities for Filipinos within the tourism industry”

DOT to hold the Philippine Experience Program (PEP) on 28-30 Oct to boost tourism in Butuan CIty and the Agusan province. The program invited media and influencers from Manila, Cebu, and Caraga to join a tour visiting tourism sites in Butuan, as well as in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, and Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) expects 1.62 million Filipinos to travel by sea for the All Saints’ and All Souls Day holidays, +5% YoY. PPA General Manager said Panay is expected to record the highest number of passengers, and ports in Batangas, Mindoro, Siquijor, Bohol, and Bicol are expected to record increasing numbers of passengers. Cebu Pacific expects to carry around one million passengers during the period

Bacolod Mayor said the MassKara Festival will continue until 31 Oct, extended from 27 Oct, to allow small businesses to sell their products and recover from losses due to Tropical Storm Kristine. The mayor will donate 2.5 million PHP in food vouchers for the residents. The festival reportedly saw “record-breaking crowds” despite the uncooperative weather

The Philippines sent a warning about a new storm after Tropical Storm Trami (Kristine) caused damage to the country. The weather agency said Tropical Storm Kong-rey will bring heavy rain and severe wind. The agency said the storm will strengthen into a typhoon by 29 Oct and will pass close to small Philippine islands as early as 30 Oct

The National Disaster Agency said at least 110 people died due to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine and 42 people are still missing, but no provincial-level breakdown was provided. Over 575,000 people fled their homes due to the storm. An Office of Civil Defence official said Kristine is the deadliest storm to hit the Philippines in 2024. The death toll increased to 60 in Batangas province

Storm Kristine (Trami) has killed over 90 people in the Philippines as of 27 Oct, leaving large areas flooded. The storm is due to reach Vietnam on 27 Oct, with flooding risks in Quang Binh and Quang Nam

Storm Trami might return to the Philippines before it hits Vietnam due to an interaction with tropical storm Kong-Rey. Storm Trami impacted more than 500k people

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that 158 cities and municipalities were declared under a state of calamity, impacting 1.4 million families throughout the country

14 people were killed and thousands were forced to evacuate due to Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami). Police said in the northern Philippines, 32,000 people fled their homes. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Kristine made landfall in Divilacan town in Isabela province at 12.30 am on 24 Oct

Due to Tropical Storm Kristine, 8,786 people including passengers, truck drivers, and cargo helpers were stranded at 126 ports from 12am-4am on 24 Oct. On 23 Oct, it was reported 5,130 people were stranded from 4-8pm

A Senator said the minimum fee for foreigners to stay and retire in the Philippines is low. The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) reported that the fee is currently set at $20,000 USD (1.14 million PHP) during a budget hearing for the budget of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its agencies. The Senator, however, is unsure whether PRA should increase the minimum visa deposit stating “It’s a balancing act between attracting retirees, at the same time the security issues” whether the individual was involved in any criminal activities in the Philippines. PRA General Manager said there are 58,000 foreign retirees in the Philippines, with the majority coming from China and South Korea. In Apr 2024, PRA recorded 78,000 retirees

Destinations in the Visayas region are among the most popular among international tourists. The Tourism Secretary said Central Visayas, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas accounted for 44% of the Philippines’ total tourist arrivals, which totalled 2.45 million in 2023. The region received 9.67 million domestic tourists, accounting for 20% of overnight tourists in 2024

The Hotel and Restaurant Tourism Weekend event was held in Baguio City, Northern Philippines from 24-26 Oct. Indigenous cuisines and local specialities were served during the event

A study by Ubuy, an e-commerce company, showed that the Philippines is the 3rd best destination for long-staying tourists. Philippine scored 55.74 with an average cost of $943 USD for a 20-day stay

The Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) in partnership with the Department of Tourism launched the Philippine Hotel Industry Strategy Action Plan (PHISAP) 2023-2028. This will serve as a blueprint for infrastructure development, product diversification, marketing and promotions, digital transformation, and industry collaboration with a focus on sustainable practices to ensure the long-term viability of the sector

The President’s Office suspended all work in government offices and classes from 12pm on 31 Oct to commemorate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) CEO said its budget was decreased to 1.32 billion PHP for 2025 from 2.5 billion PHP in 2024, a 47% drop. Due to this TPB’s marketing and promotions fund was cut by 25% to 890 million PHP from 1.19 billion PHP allocated in 2024. She said they may not be able to attend next year’s Arabian Travel Mart which generated 430.75 million PHP in sales in 2024. TPB proposed additional funding of 468.8 million PHP outside of NEP2025 to; - Global Media Campaign (P150 million) - a Local Media Campaign (P43.8 million) - an Enhanced MICE Plus Program (P50 million) the ATM (P25 million) - P200 million to prepare for the ASEAN Tourism Forum in 2026

Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) said Palawan took the 13th spot in Travel + Leisure’s 2024 World’s Best Islands list and 5th on the Best Islands in Asia list

The government suspended government offices and closed schools, and halted foreign currency exchange due to Tropical Storm Trami. The Philippines weather agency Pagasa said Trami is centred at 180 km off the central town of Virac in Catanduanes Province. The agency warned of heavy rain, storms, and strong winds in coastal towns within the typhoon’s path. Local governments evacuated residents along the path of the typhoon

The Department of Tourism (DOT) said 3 hotels; the Peninsula Manila in Makati, Admiral Hotel Manila – MGallery, and Hotel Okura Manila in Pasay, were named in the Michelin Guide. 3 island resorts; Amanpulo in Palawan, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan in Cebu and Nay Palad Hideaway in Siargao, were also listed in the guide