Showcase yearThis is supposed to be a year for showcasing the Philippines, as the country takes its turn as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and prepares to host the summits and numerous other ASEAN meetings during the year. That 5.6 million is way below the pre-COVID foreign arrivals of 8.26 million in 2019 in the Philippines. And then it details disincentives to visiting the Philippines, from considering travel destinations to arrival at the NAIA and the travel experience itself. But in the first 11 months of 2025, arrivals from South Korea plummeted by 21 percent. Locals told me that only South Koreans were still traveling and keeping the tourism industry afloat.

Source: Philippine Star January 08, 2026 16:25 UTC