Manila: The Philippines is ready to meet the demand should there be an increase in tourist visa applications in China, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Saturday. In a statement, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Angelica Escalona explained that the visa requirements currently in place are not intended to prevent the entry of tourists into the country.
According to Philippines News Agency, Escalona stated, "They are intended precisely to assist the country in ensuring that legitimate travelers are given visas to enter the Philippines." She further emphasized that all Philippine Posts are equipped to handle the current visa demand and assured that the Department is prepared to accommodate any future increase in demand.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco had earlier attributed the Philippines' missed 2024 target of 7.7 million foreign visitors to several factors, including the "postponed e-Visa program for the Chinese market." During a House of Representatives budget hearing, Frasco mentioned that the Philippines "would have been able to bring in" 2 million more arrivals if the e-Visa program had continued.
The DFA declined to comment further on whether there are plans to resume the e-Visa program. Escalona, however, mentioned that the DFA would continue collaborating with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and other relevant government agencies and private sectors to bolster Philippine tourism. She stated, "In line with its economic diplomacy mandate, the DFA shares the vision of the DOT in enhancing tourist arrivals and strengthening the tourism industry." She also noted that Philippine Foreign Service Posts continue to conduct tourism promotion activities.
The report also highlighted a decrease in arrivals from the Chinese market from January to August, with a 24.40 percent drop to 182,228 arrivals compared to 241,041 in the same period last year. Before the pandemic, China was the second top source market for tourists to the Philippines, with 1.7 million visitors in 2019, following South Korea's 1.9 million. Currently, China ranks fifth on the list.
