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.

According to WTTC’s 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.

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 contributed PHP 5.3 trillion to the national economy and supported 11.2 million jobs. Domestic spending surged to PHP 3.6 trillion, and international spending grew to PHP 644.8 billion, edging towards a complete recovery and laying the groundwork for the record-breaking figures now projected in 2025.

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 speaks to the country’s extraordinary appeal, its policy focus on tourism as a growth engine, and the energy of its people and private sector.”

Looking 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, 2.5 million new jobs are expected to be created, bringing total sector employment 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 calls on policymakers to continue fostering this trajectory with clear regulation, long-term investment in workforce development, and sustained global promotion of the Philippines as a world-class destination.