The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will from today offer visa-free entry to Chinese nationals visiting the country for up to 14 days in an effort to boost declining tourist numbers from one if its key source markets.
Under the scheme, Chinese nationals traveling to the Philippines strictly for tourism or business purposes may avail of the new visa-free entry privilege, which allows for a non-extendable 14-day stay and is non-convertible to any other type of Philippine visa category.
The DFA said this is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’ directive to facilitate trade, investments and tourism, as well as strengthen people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and China.
Visa-free entry is, however, only valid through Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Cebu’s Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Chinese nationals will also be required to have a confirmed hotel or accommodation booking, a return or onward flight ticket and be subject to a check on any “derogatory records”.
The scheme will be in effect for one year before undergoing a review.
As reported by IAG, foreign tourist arrivals to the Philippines was down 3.02% year-on-year through the first 11 months of 2025 to 4,769,871, including a 16.55% fall in arrivals from China to 248,339.
China was the Philippines’ second largest tourism source market pre-COVID but has since fallen to fifth on the list.
Maybank Securities has forecast the Philippines tourism outlook to improve from this year onwards, strengthened by three key drivers including economic growth, infrastructure improvements and the targeted easing of visa requirements.
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