Benise Balaoing

Visitors flock to Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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Boracay Island

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Philippines has welcomed 2,955,014 tourists from January 1 to June 16 this year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Thursday.In a statement, Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said this is already 6.16 percent higher than in the same period last year.“The United States has now become our Number One source market, with more than half a million visitors and still growing,&quot; Angara-Mathay said, noting that 591,569 Americans have visited from the start of the year.&quot;These numbers are indeed encouraging. But what matters even more to us is not just how many people are arriving—it is what that translates into: More jobs, more investments, and more opportunities reaching communities across the country,&quot; the secretary said.The Philippine Statistics Authority said in May that tourism accounted for 8.1 percent of Gross Domestic Product in 2025 and employed 7.71 million people that year.Angara-Mathay said the department is now focused on improving connectivity and tourism experiences in the country.&quot;We will work closely with the Department of Transportation, airlines, operators, and our industry partners to expand air connectivity across the country. Not just protecting existing routes, but actively opening new ones that bring travelers directly into our destinations,&quot; she said.Angara said she also wants tourists to spend more in the Philippines to boost economic growth.&quot;Our goal is not simply to bring in more visitors, but to make every visit more meaningful, longer stays, higher spending, and deeper engagement with our destinations and communities,&quot; she said.The Philippines saw 6.48 million tourists in <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/1/21/philippines-logs-6-48-million-tourists-in-2025-dot-targets-more-for-2026-1409" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2025</a>.

PH welcomes more than 2.9 million tourists from January to mid-June

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PH welcomes more than 2.9 million tourists from January to mid-June

Benise Balaoing,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 18, 2026 03:06 PM PHT

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Philippines

tourism

tourist arrivals

Department of Tourism

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