The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) predicts that the Philippine tourism sector will grow by 13.5 percent in 2025. According to the WTTC’s Economic Impact Research report, tourism is expected to add PHP 5.9 trillion to the country’s economy this year. This marks a new record and is a strong recovery compared to the pre-pandemic level in 2019.
The tourism sector will contribute about 21 percent of the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP), highlighting its importance to the national economy. The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes this forecast as confirmation of the country’s growing role as a key tourism destination in the region. Efforts to promote culture, diversify tourism products, and focus on sustainability are supporting this growth.
Tourism-related employment is also set to rise. In 2025, the sector is expected to support 11.7 million jobs, representing nearly 24 percent of all employment nationwide. Visitor spending is increasing as well, with international tourist spending forecast to reach PHP 709.2 billion, a 2.1 percent rise from 2019. Domestic tourist spending is projected to hit PHP 4.1 trillion, growing 9.3 percent over the previous high.
The WTTC report points to improvements in air connectivity, infrastructure investments, and destination resilience as key factors that will help sustain the tourism industry’s expansion. These developments will support the Philippines in maintaining tourism as a strong driver of economic growth and job creation.
