Philippines posts $1.1 billion in tourism revenues in January

Philippines’ tourism soars past pre-pandemic levels, generating a record-breaking one billion one hundred million dollars in January 2025, fueling economic growth.

The Philippines has kicked off 2025 with a tourism revenue milestone, generating over USD 1.1 billion (PHP 65.3 billion) in January alone, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT). This achievement marks a full recovery and expansion of the country’s tourism sector, surpassing pre-pandemic earnings recorded in January 2019.

As per DOT data released on February 28, 2025, January’s revenue figures significantly outperformed the USD 821 million (PHP 43 billion) recorded in the same month of 2019. This represents an increase of 136.1% in US dollar terms and a 151.46% rise in Philippine peso earnings, underscoring the sector’s rapid rebound.

Tourism Growth Drives Economic Strength

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco emphasized that this surge in revenue reflects not only the industry’s recovery but also its expansion and evolution, solidifying tourism as a key economic driver for the Philippines. She further noted that January 2025’s revenue figures exceeded those of January 2024, reinforcing the sector’s sustained growth trajectory.

In comparison to January 2024, when tourism revenue was recorded at USD 652.3 million (PHP 36.5 billion), this year’s earnings saw a remarkable 71.4% increase in USD and a 78.81% rise in PHP.

Record-Breaking Tourism Figures

The DOT’s tourism revenue calculations are based on Visitor Sample Surveys, Arrival/Departure Card records, Shipping Manifests, and data from the eTravel System.

In 2024, the Philippines reached an all-time high tourism revenue of approximately PHP 760 billion, highlighting the sector’s pivotal role in national economic stability.

Meanwhile, international arrivals have also been robust in early 2025, with 1,167,908 foreign tourists visiting the Philippines in the first two months of the year.

Top Source Markets for Philippine Tourism

South Korea remains the largest source of tourists, contributing 295,611 visitors, or 25.31% of total arrivals. The steady inflow of South Korean tourists is expected to rise further following the appointment of South Korean celebrity Seo In-Guk as the Philippines’ tourism ambassador in February 2025.

Other key tourism markets include:

• United States: 229,836 visitors
• Japan: 83,208 visitors
• Canada: 65,145 visitors
• Australia: 61,564 visitors
• China: 53,545 visitors
• Taiwan: 41,388 visitors
• United Kingdom: 34,451 visitors
• Singapore: 29,352 visitors
• France: 21,252 visitors

With a strong start to 2025, the Philippines’ tourism sector is set to break new records, reinforcing its role as a key contributor to economic growth and international travel appeal.