The Philippines eagerly welcomes the launch of electronic visas at their embassy in Beijing for Chinese nationals starting in November.
Tourism Secretary Christina Franco lauded the “milestone policy”, noting that it “provides a strong signal to the market that the Philippines is taking steps to improve accessibility”.
The official noted that it “restores confidence, not only among travelers but also among our tourism stakeholders who depend on timely and enabling government action,” as cited by the Philippine News Agency.
The suspension of the e-Visa system in 2023 caused the Philippines to miss its expected tourism figures, with Franco noting that its relaunch is “both necessary and overdue”. She furthered that it “directly responds to persistent market demand and industry feedback, and addresses a gap that has constrained our regional competitiveness for nearly three years”.
Despite the launch next month, the official indicated that the Philippines does “not expect immediate surges in arrivals, given the timing of implementation and broader external factors”.
According to the nation’s Department of Tourism, the Philippines welcomed over 203,900 Chinese arrivals during the first nine months of this year. In 2019, it welcomed 1.7 million Chinese tourists, the second-largest number of foreign visitors behind South Korea.
