The Department of Tourism (DOT) is urging the resumption of the Philippines’ e-visa program in China and the easing of visa policies to revive tourist arrivals from one of the country’s biggest outbound markets.
DOT said that while ASEAN neighbors have waived or simplified visa rules — gaining huge boosts in tourism — the suspension of the e-visa program and strict daily visa caps are holding the Philippines back.
Currently, free independent travelers (FITs) face limited appointment slots, and group visa applications are allowed only twice a week, restricting potential charter flights.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) insisted it can handle more applications if demand increases, but DOT stressed that proactive measures are needed:
“True competitiveness requires not only the capacity to respond once demand arises, but also the removal of barriers that may be holding it back,” the agency said.
As proof, DOT cited Indian arrivals, which rebounded from -21% in January to +4.93% as of August 2025 after granting visa-free entry starting June 8.
Before the pandemic, China was the Philippines’ second-largest source market, with 1.7M tourists in 2019. But from January to August 2025, arrivals plunged by 24.4% — from 241,041 last year to just 182,228.
DOT said it will work closely with DFA and other agencies to remove travel bottlenecks and ensure the country competes on equal footing in the global tourism market.