DOT Eyes More Tourists from India

JOHOR BAHRU, MALAYSIA – In her address during the 12th ASEAN-India Tourism Ministers Meeting on Monday (Jan. 20), Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco underscored the promising growth and future potential of tourism relations between the Philippines and India.

According to Secretary Frasco, in 2024, the Philippines welcomed nearly 80,000 Indian visitors, marking an over 12% growth compared to the previous year.

“While this number is smaller relative to our ASEAN neighbors, it represents significant growth,” Secretary Frasco noted.

“We see tremendous potential in India’s outbound tourism market, and we are committed to making the Philippines a top destination for Indian tourists,” she added.

Secretary Frasco likewise elaborated on the diverse experiences the Philippines offers which cater to Indian travelers’ unique preferences: “The Philippines offers a diverse array of experiences that cater to the unique preferences of Indian travelers. From our world-class and award-winning beaches, our top dive sites, and rich cultural offerings to our renowned wedding destinations such as Cebu, which has been awarded Asia’s Leading Wedding Destination by the World Travel Awards, as well as our MICE venues that can very well cater to the Indian market. The Philippine experience is one that harmoniously blends natural beauty with cultural richness, providing Indian tourists with a perfect mix of relaxation, adventure, and discovery.”

She emphasized the vast potential for further expansion, highlighting the Philippine government’s proactive approach to visa liberalization by air and sea, exemplified by the successful launch of the Cruise Visa Waiver Program and active participation in joint working group meetings and business-to-business interactions with Indian counterparts.

“We have already initially instituted the introduction of electronic visas for Indian nationals by the Department of Foreign Affairs. This digital initiative streamlines visa processes, and we look to make the efficiency of the operations of the e-Visa system even better under our President’s instructions,” said Secretary Frasco.

“As we strengthen these connections, we are also excited about the possibility of direct flights linking the Philippines and India, a critical development that will open up new pathways for tourism, trade, and cultural exchange. We are hopeful that Air India will soon connect Indian cities directly to destinations in the Philippines that include Manila, Boracay, Clark, and Cebu,” added Secretary Frasco referencing to the efforts of the DOT’s Routes Development Team.

Meanwhile, Secretary Frasco also noted that sustainable tourism remains a cornerstone of the partnership between the Philippines and India, reflecting both nations’ shared respect for cultural heritage and natural environments. The recent 75th-anniversary celebration of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and India highlighted the strength of this relationship and the vibrant opportunities for future tourism cooperation.

Secretary Frasco pointed to the successful participation of the Philippines in events like the Outbound Travel Market (OTM) 2024 in India as a testament to the country’s commitment to engaging with the Indian tourism sector.

“Together with the ASEAN-India partnership at the forefront, we can continue to unlock new opportunities for sustainable tourism growth, economic development, and cultural exchange,” she concluded, expressing optimism for a prosperous future for both nations.

Strengthened tourism ties with India

In a bilateral meeting with Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat of India’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Tourism Forum meetings, Secretary Frasco reiterated The Philippines readiness to sign an implementation program to execute the Memorandum of Cooperation on Tourism that was signed between India and Philippines in 2019. The specifics of the implementation program would cover critical areas such as the expansion of air connectivity not just to Manila but also direct to our destinations that include Cebu, Clark, and other gateways. The exchange of travel professionals, as well as the engagement of joint marketing promotions to have mutual increase in tourism flows, among other things.

“Your Excellency, we are very hopeful that through our meeting today, through the forthcoming implementation program and the work that both our teams will do, that we can increase from the 79,000 Indians that arrived in the Philippines last year to allow the Philippines to have a share of the over 5 million that arrived to the ASEAN in 2024,” enthused Frasco.

To this, Minister Shekhawat replied, “ The India and the Philippines both share a long, long, long heritage and a relationship between both the countries, not only on the basis of the business and other things but also cultural ties that are also there between both the countries.”

“I would like to thank you for the initiations which have been taken up by the Philippine side for creating more tourism potential between both the countries. I’m sure that the efforts of the Philippines side and India in tourism, both of the offices are going to put in. The number of tourists inflow to both the countries are going to increase, and certainly, the share of the total number of tourists, Indian tourists visiting to the ASEAN countries, Philippines deserves much, much more,” Minister Shekhwat concluded.