Understanding Low Foreign Arrival

By Gil delos Santos

While the western world now combats against over tourism, the Philippines in other hand struggles to get a good share on foreign arrivals: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Q44TeFswV/

The latest Seasia stats report placed the Philippines at the bottom with 3m arrivals from January to August 2025 versus the top: Malaysia and Thailand with over 20m respectively, Vietnam with 13m. 

Pre-pandemic (in 2019), Thailand records 30m+, Vietnam 18m, The Philippines with 8m. It has always been a struggle for the Philippines. But 2025 is looking the worst so far. 

We always read reports on statistics but we don't often see the reasons why we're behind—except for the usual complains how bad our Department of Tourism is being run.

I have followed the tourist arrival stats and trends in the past years. I research and collect tourist impressions over time. Here's what I found out:

FACTORS AFFECTING LOW FOREIGN ARRIVAL

1) 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 

This is the top reason because of the Philippines' geographic nature. We are an archipelago with 7 thousand islands which make it difficult to reach destinations. Access can only be either by sea or by air. If by sea, our inter-island seacrafts aren't designed to cater ease and comfort for luxury travellers plus issues on seaworthiness and safety. If by air, we have the most expensive domestic flights in the world plus limited regional flights on remote destinations. 

2) 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

 

3) 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗽𝘀

Poor inter-island connectivity (ferry systems, regional airports), inconsistent tourism facilities. This affects the ease of travel and comfort, especially for long-haul visitors.

4) 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀 

This is the main reason of the recent drop in 2025 as china is recorded to be the highest inbound travellers. The Philippine-china relations is on troubled water prompting the government for Visa restrictions.

5) 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀

6) 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺

 

7) 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗮𝗽

I see this as a minor issue for the reason that the Philippines is globally recognized and a constant awardee in different fields of tourism already. Boracay alone never misses a year without being recognized as the top of the top in tourism. It is also likely that even how much we try to promote, if the first six issues above aren't addressed, marketing efforts become a waste. 

STRATEGY TO ADDRESS LOW FOREIGN ARRIVAL 

☑️ 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗕𝘂𝗯𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺

Channel more focus on prominent Philippine tourist destinations like Boracay: Improve tourism infrastructure, improve the Caticlan Airport facility to a world-class level, improve the jetty ports, open direct international flights from Western Countries, fund and strongly market Boracay in the global stage to let other Philippine tourist destinations become a complemental beneficiary after. 

This strategy has proven to work in the past. Western travellers used to only know Boracay back then. They targeted to come to the Philippines only to visit Boracay — then later find out that there are other interesting places to explore too. But the main reason of coming to the Philippines is always Boracay. 

We can do this again! Facility and amenity wise, Boracay is equipped and ready to cater all sort of travellers especially the luxury seeking travellers.

For long term solution, the Philippines needs a country-wide fix to install tourism infrastructure for accessibility from island to island and connectivity with ease and comfort.