The Philippines is aiming to boost its tourism from China, with the Department of Tourism pushing for an easing of its e-Visa policy and up visitation from the “major market”.
According to reports, the DOT cited neighboring countries within ASEAN’s success in drawing in more visitors from source markets after waiving or easing visa requirements.
The department is aimed at attracting more ‘free independent travelers (FIT)’, citing that visa slots for the traveler group remain limited. In conjunction group visa applications remain restricted to “only twice a week”.
The tourism department aims to coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Service Posts to facilitate the issuance of visas, hoping for a proactive approach to stimulate visitation.
Chinese visitation to the Philippines declined sharply this year, despite the nation being the second-largest tourism source market in 2019.
Written by
Kelsey Wilhelm
Kelsey Wilhelm is a print and broadcast journalist and editor. Based in Asia for over 20 years, he saw the birth of Macau's rampantly successful gaming industry, propelling him into the world of casinos. Now focusing on all markets throughout Asia, he embraces new technologies and trends, from sports betting to online gaming – always seeking the new frontier.
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