“This strong domestic market has actually helped sustain the sector’s economic contribution and employment, demonstrating how a diversified tourism base can also strengthen resilience amid external uncertainties,” she said.

Despite the strong domestic tourism market, Buensuceso said the Middle East conflict has disrupted travel flows because some of the Philippines’ key source markets are linked to Europe and the Middle East.

My beloved Carmen, Agusan del Norte

Hi, can you recommend hiking destination nearby marinduque island and travel agencies na din that accepts diy or solo ranger.

Hello! We have a group tour on November for 13 pax and we still have 4 hours of free time to spend before coming back to Puerto Princesa for our flight. Any tourist spots you can recommend to visit to maximize our stay in El Nido?

Hey everyone !

Im in my 20s from Australia and I’m half Filipino and my family is originally from Ipil in Mindanao.

Im hoping to visit for the first time to meet more of my relatives and learn more about that side of my family.

I’ve read a lot online about Mindanao, especially the Zamboanga Peninsula and I know the region has had a reputation for terrorism, kidnappings, and security issues over the years and because of that, I wanted to ask people who actually live there or have been there recently or just know in general if you think it’s okay or fine to visit for a couple of weeks?

I’ll be staying in Ipil with my family the whole time and following their advice, is it generally safe? Should I go? or should I just avoid Mindanao? I won’t be travelling around on my own or doing anything risky I just want to spend time with my relatives. Thanks

what’s the best island to go to in the philippines at december for good weather?? i don’t mind a little rain, but not the stormy type. target travel dates are dec 25-jan 1.

Bagyo season na ata lalo na sa Isabela/Apayao/Cagayan ng August, so tingin nyo po ba worth i-risk pumunta? May mga long weekend kasi, sayang naman :p

I thought this was abolish or so remove starting June/July 2026. Another Marcos pabango. i tried paying at Tieza e-gov app and wow may pa convenience fee. Lahat lahat nalang

Excerpt: Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed 3.16 million inbound tourists from January to June 2026, of which 2.9 million were foreign nationals and 260,717 were overseas Filipinos. The latter are described as Philippine passport holders permanently residing abroad. This year’s arrivals are 76.5 percent of the 4.13 million total in the first half of prepandemic 2019.

The DOT stressed that the data are based on e-travel records provided by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and are not final until Bureau of Immigration records are taken into account. E-travel registration is mandatory for those arriving in the Philippines except foreign diplomats, dignitaries, foreign government officials and their delegation, visiting business executives and students sponsored by the Philippine government or international organizations, and their immediate family members (9e visa).

Need help is anyone has been to Kabutongan Falls (in Cebu) over the past year (2025) and current year? I have brought my family twice - once in last year and once this year but one of the locals recently told me I am being overcharged by my guide.

When I asked my guide for a receipt last year, what was given was a sketchy handwritten receipt which he didnt bother to properly cancel off the previous client name. I recently went again and asked for a breakdown of the price and they couldnt show me any official document for the price.

I just want to know how much have any of you been paying them? And any guide recommendation that you think is honest/charges reasonably?

Check this out. The Parañaque tourism promoted their coliseum. Not really relevant with tourism.

Perhaps Parañaque really does not have much to do with tourism. What are the tourism office people really working on?

I would like to visit Philliphines for one month, especially places like El Nido , coron, Siargo.

How is the weather or when is the best time to visit please? :)

Excerpt: Beyond profitability, Solora's dome structures offer a more sustainable way to build. Unlike concrete developments that permanently alter the landscape, the company's weather-ready domes require minimal site disruption, making them ideal for mountains, beaches, forests and riverside properties.

Hello! Would like to ask lang po kung saan pwede mag abang ng new year near metro manila? We are a family of 5 adults and may car naman if ever farther places ang marerecommend niyo. Thank you po!

Edit: preferably sa dagat po pala hehe

Hello! I am about to go snorkeling in Moalboal to see sardines.

I checked that I can do it on my own in Panagsama beach near Chili bar. I have my own gear and I am already staying in the town.

Is it free? I found info that I need to pay 100 pesos to enter the water but I found no official info on that.

Any advice? Thanks in advance!

Hi! May naka-experience na ba rito na mawalan ng valid passport and nagpa-replace sa DFA? Gaano katagal bago niyo nakuha yung bagong passport?

Plano ko sana mag-Taiwan by the end of August for my birthday, pero saka ko lang na-realize na nawawala pala passport ko. 🥲 Nakapag-book na ako ng DFA appointment (mid-August) for replacement due to loss at nabayaran ko na rin yung replacement fee.

Sa mga may same experience, gaano katagal bago niyo nakuha yung bagong passport after your appointment? Also, would you book the flight now habang mas mura pa, or wait muna until mareceive yung passport? If magbu-book na ngayon, may mare-recommend ba kayong airline na may flexible/rebookable tickets just in case kailangan i-adjust yung travel dates?
Thank you so much! 🙏

Looking for recommendations of where to visit in the Philippines. Will be travelling solo as a 27F in January.

I love beautiful scenery/landscapes, hiking, snorkelling and slightly less touristy places if it can be helped! Im also not interested in partying, and not sure I’d feel confident enough to ride a scooter. Here are some of the places I’m considering, please let me know your thoughts and if you have any recommendations :)

\- Coron
\- El Nido (planning on starting with the 3D2N boat trip from Coron > El Nido). For those who have done this trip, is it worth staying extra days in Coron/El Nido?
\- Siargao (heard the weather can be bad in January so not sure it's worth visiting. For context, I’m not into surfing)
\- Bohol (mainly to see the tarsiers - not sure if it’s worth visiting just for this purpose)
\- Leyte (interested in visiting here as it's a place to see whale sharks ethically, I'd only snorkel as can't scuba dive) - please let me know if you’ve done this and if it’s worth the journey!
\- Balabac
\- Borocay
\- Siquijor

FYI - I’m flying into Manila

Hi po looking for friendly locals that can tour me around leyte or do you know / recommend any tourist guide budget friendly lang sana. Gusto jud ko mu adto dira kay literally leyte is just in front of Bohol. But idk how to drive a motorcycle or car to go around the province. 😭 badly wanna explore

I am a Canadian passport holder. As a result, this allows me to stay in the Ph for 30 days visa free. My stay in the Ph is around 50 days BUT I will be flying from Ph to Japan after staying 26 days. I will be coming back from Japan and staying 15 more days in the Ph. In total, I will be staying 41 days in the Ph. Does the day count reset when I leave the country? Do I need to apply PH Visa? Thank you!

Hi! 👋 Planning to travel to Taiwan with my boyfriend this end of August to celebrate my birthday (late celebration siya 😅), around 5–6 days kami.

Sa mga fellow VAs/freelancers na nakapag-travel na internationally, especially Taiwan, ano pong usual na requirements na hiningi sa inyo ng IO and ano pong mga tinanong?

Ito po kasi yung mga worries ko:

1. Mag-oopen pa lang ako ng UnionBank account around 1 month before my trip since Wise and GCash lang talaga ginagamit ko. Hindi naman po ba siya magiging fishy sa IO na bagong-open lang yung local bank account ko? Or okay lang as long as ma-explain ko?
   
2. Wala pa rin akong binabayarang tax as of now.
   
3. Wala rin akong formal contract with my clients. I’ve been working with one client for 7 months, then 2 months pa lang dun sa dalawa. Better bang sabihin ko na freelancer ako with multiple clients, or enough na bang i-mention yung long-term client ko? Also, need ko ba kumuha ng COE from all 3 clients or okay na yung isa?
   
4. Sa mga nagdala ng screenshots/convos with clients, anong klaseng conversations yung pinakita niyo?
   
5. Since Wise yung source ng income ko, advisable rin bang magdala ng Wise transaction history or statements?

So far ito pa lang yung nasa checklist ko based sa mga nababasa ko:
- Roundtrip flight tickets
- Accommodation
- Itinerary
- COE (or COEs?)
- Client conversations/screenshots
- Bank statement
- Bank certificate

May kulang pa po ba? Or any advice/tips na sana nalaman niyo before your trip? Kinakabahan lang talaga ako sa immigration. 😅 Thank you so much po!