Boracay tops holiday tourist arrivals nationwide

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan, emerged as the country’s top destination for both domestic and international travelers during the Christmas holiday break, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The DOT said Monday that Boracay recorded 118,745 visitors from Dec. 15–28, 2025, the highest arrival figure nationwide for the period.

Tourism activity was further boosted by cruise tourism, which brought thousands of additional visitors to the island.

On Dec. 17, Star Navigator of Star Cruises made its maiden call in Boracay, carrying about 1,670 passengers and crew members.

The island also welcomed its final cruise ship for the year on Dec. 30 with the maiden arrival of M/V Norwegian Sun, which brought around 2,000 passengers and crew.

Data from the Malay Tourism Office showed Boracay received a total of 227,828 tourists in December 2025.

The figure included 182,913 domestic travelers, 40,179 foreign visitors, and 4,736 overseas Filipino workers.

Boracay’s White Beach was recently named the No. 1 Best Beach in the World for sunbathing, surfing and relaxation in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards.

“The strength of domestic tourism in the Philippines remains a driving force of our travel industry. The Christmas holidays once again showed how Filipinos continue to explore and support our own destinations,” said DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.

“From ridge to reef, cities to heritage towns, domestic travel helps communities recover and thrive, boosts the economy, deepens national pride, and supports more equitable tourism development across our regions,” she added.

Other destinations also posted strong holiday traffic across the country.

Cebu City logged 102,124 visitors, while Panglao Island in Bohol recorded 62,240 tourists.

In Eastern Visayas, Tacloban City welcomed 25,194 overnight guests, while Malajog Beach in Calbayog City, Samar, emerged as the region’s most visited site with 56,543 tourists.

Baguio City attracted 117,137 visitors in the Cordillera Administrative Region from Dec. 15 through New Year’s Eve.

In Bicol, Camarines Sur hosted 92,000 tourists, while Albay drew 45,000 visitors, many of whom traveled along routes offering views of Mayon Volcano.

Northern Luzon also saw steady holiday traffic, with La Union recording 47,338 visitors seeking a beach getaway.

Island destinations remained popular for a “summer in December” experience, as El Nido, Palawan, welcomed 40,000 tourists, Coron received 17,850 visitors, and Puerto Galera logged 13,204 arrivals.

Despite strong domestic travel during the holidays, the DOT earlier reported total tourist arrivals fell to 5.235 million from January to November 2025, down 2.16% from 5.35 million in the same period in 2024.

Some tourism stakeholders have attributed the decline to concerns over the perceived emphasis on the DOT chief’s personal profile rather than broader destination promotion.