Tourists Are Skipping Philippines, Despite Travel Boom In Southeast Asia. Why? | Insight

Post-pandemic travel has returned with a vengeance, with tourist numbers breaking records in many territories. Yet, one country in Southeast Asia lags its neighbours - The Philippines. In 2024, 5.9 million tourists visited the Philippines, well below pre-pandemic levels of 8.3 million. In the first quarter of this year, foreign arrival numbers are 27% below pre-COVID figures for the same period. Despite being blessed with natural beauty and a welcoming culture, why does the Philippines underperform when it comes to tourism? It is a question that Filipinos are asking themselves, as a viral social media thread earlier this year sparked a debate on why the country ranks so low on travellers' wish-lists. How much does this unfulfilled potential cost the Philippines, and what is the country doing to entice visitors to come? With the recent deterioration of relations with China leading to a shrinking number of Chinese travellers, what other markets will the Philippines pursue?

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00:00 Fall in tourists to the Philippines
04:25 Slow pandemic tourism rebound: why?
10:22 The problem with Manila airport
14:38 Traffic congestion deter tourists
20:09 Visiting all 82 provinces
22:06 Upgrading of transport infrastructure
26:40 Sustainable tourism in the Philippines
31:45 Losing Chinese tourists
37:14 Does the Philippines have an image problem?
42:47 How the Philippines can attract tourists

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Insight investigates and analyses topical issues that impact Asia and the rest of the world.
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