The Philippines recorded just over 1.76 million foreign tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 2.6 percent increase year-on-year, according to data released by the country’s Department of Tourism.
The growth was supported by gains across most key markets, although declines from South Korea and mainland China continued to weigh on overall performance.
Including overseas Filipinos, total arrivals reached nearly 1.89 million in the January–March period. Arrivals by overseas Filipinos rose 1.9 percent year-on-year to 126,091.
The United States remained the largest source market, contributing 393,137 visitors, or 20.8 percent of total arrivals, up 5.9 percent from a year earlier. South Korea ranked second with 385,569 arrivals, accounting for 20.4 percent of the total, but declined 10.2 percent year-on-year, extending a downward trend observed in 2025.
Japan was the third-largest market, with 144,509 arrivals, up 7.8 percent year-on-year. Other markets also recorded growth, including Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, with increases of 16.3 percent, 13.4 percent, and 3.2 percent, respectively.
In contrast, arrivals from mainland China fell 19.8 percent year-on-year to 46,553. Taiwan showed strong growth, rising 26.3 percent to 66,818 visitors.
For full-year context, the Philippines received approximately 5.94 million foreign tourists in 2025, slightly higher than the nearly 5.93 million recorded in 2024.
