The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announced that the Philippines’ Travel & Tourism sector is on course to build on its record-breaking performance from last year, with new forecasts pointing to even greater heights in 2025.
WTTC 2025 Economic Impact Research (EIR) forecast, the sector will contribute a PHP 5.9 trillion to the economy this year – 13.5% above 2019 and a new all-time high.
This new record would represent more than one fifth (21%) of national GDP, cementing Travel & Tourism’s place as a backbone of the Philippine economy.
Employment in the sector is also set to continue to reach record levels, with 11.7 million livelihoods expected to be supported by Travel & Tourism in 2025, accounting for almost a quarter (23.8%) of all national employment.
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International visitor spending is also on the rise, projected to reach PHP 709.2 billion – up 2.1% on the previous high in 2019, while domestic visitor spending is anticipated to reach PHP 4.1 trillion – a 9.3% increase over its previous peak.
2024 in Review
Last year marked the beginning of a significant resurgence for Travel & Tourism in the Philippines.
The sector supported 11,2 million jobs and contributed PHP 5.3 billion to the national GDP. The domestic spending increased to PHP 3.6 trillion and the international spending to PHP 644.8billion, which is a step towards the complete recovery.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The Philippines is a standout example of how Travel & Tourism, when supported by a clear, long-term vision, can deliver real economic impact and long-term opportunity.
This success is a testament to the extraordinary appeal of the country, its focus on tourism policy as a growth driver, and the energy and passion of its people and its private sector.
Look to 2035
The global tourism body is expecting Travel & Tourism’s contribution to the economy to reach PHP 9.2 trillion by 2035, representing 19.8% of the economy.
Over the next decade it is estimated that 2.5 million jobs will be added, bringing the total number of employees in this sector to 14.1 million.
As the country continues to strengthen air connectivity, invest in infrastructure, and prioritise destination resilience, Travel & Tourism is positioned not just to grow, but to transform the national economy.
WTTC encourages policymakers and government to continue this path with clear regulations, investment in long-term workforce development, as well as global promotion of the Philippines’ status as a top-notch destination.
