Tourism to hit P5.9T in 2025, says WTTC

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has lauded the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) latest projection, which estimates the Philippine tourism sector will contribute a record-breaking %u20B15.9 trillion to the national economy this year.

According to the WTTC’s 2025 Economic Impact Research (EIR), this figure marks a 13.5% increase from 2019 levels and will represent 21% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), underscoring tourism’s critical role in driving national growth.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco welcomed the forecast, crediting it to strategic reforms initiated under the Marcos administration. “This affirms our resolve to elevate the Philippines as a tourism powerhouse in Asia,” Frasco said. “The diversification of our tourism products, innovations, and focus on quality and sustainability are producing tangible results in both spending and employment.”

The WTTC further projects that the tourism sector will support 11.7 million jobs in 2025—equivalent to 23.8% of total national employment.

International visitor spending is expected to hit %u20B1709.2 billion, surpassing its 2019 peak by 2.1%, while domestic visitor spending is forecast to rise 9.3%, reaching %u20B14.1 trillion.

WTTC President and CEO Julia Simpson praised the Philippines as a “standout example” of how strategic planning and public-private collaboration can yield real economic transformation. “This success speaks to the country’s extraordinary appeal, its policy focus on tourism as a growth engine, and the energy of its people,” Simpson said.

The report also highlighted continued investments in air connectivity, infrastructure, and destination resilience as critical to sustaining tourism’s momentum in the Philippines.