Philippines beats pre-pandemic tourism revenue

Screenshot from RTVM/LIVE

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Thursday reported that the country’s tourism revenue in January 2025 reached P65.3 billion, surpassing pre-pandemic earnings in 2019.

“For the month of January alone this year, the country already gained a total of $1.1 billion, or P65.3 billion, from various activities, products and services related to tourism,” the DOT said in a statement.

This marks a 151.46 percent increase from the P43 billion or $821 million recorded in January 2019, the agency noted.

READ: PH tourism revenue reaches all-time high in 2024, exceeds P760B

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the surge in income indicates not just a recovery from the pandemic but also an expansion of the industry, which now plays a crucial role in “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,” Frasco said in the same statement.

She added that this growth aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration’s goal of making tourism “inclusive and equitable,” benefiting local entrepreneurs and communities.

Frasco also noted that the January 2025 revenue had significantly exceeded January 2024 earnings, which stood at P36.5 billion.

The DOT likewise said that a total of 1,167,908 foreign nationals 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,” the agency reported.

South Korea was followed by the United States with 229,836 visitors, the DOT said.

It added that Japan ranked third with 83,208 visitors, followed by Canada with 65,145 arrivals, and Australia with 61,564 travelers.

“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,” Frasco said.