Industry News Updates for the Philippine and Global Hospitality and Tourism Industry for the week ending February 6, 2026.
Industry News Updates & Headlines:
- Japan Embassy Issues PH Warning
- Proposal To End PH Travel Tax Submitted
- High Cost PH Domestic Flights To Be Addressed
- PAL Moves Planes To Clark
- DOT Secretary Continues To Face Criticism
- PH Amps Up Its Sports Tourism Mantle
- 10k OJT Allowance Announced
- DOT AGODA Partnership
- PH Leads On ASEAN Tourism GDP But Not Arrivals
- Taiwan Opens PH Overseas Recruitment Center
Japan Embassy Issues PH Warning
The Japanese Embassy this week issued a warning to its citizens who are considering traveling to the Philippines. The warning came after a number of targeted attacks in the last 6 months.
The Embassy caution was reported by Japan News on January 28, in response to the latest violent attacks on two Japanese nationals in Manila.
The attacks both occurred on 24 January 2026, with one taking place in the morning on the San Dionisio Access Road, Parañaque City, and the other in the evening in the Ortigas Center area of Mandaluyong City.
The Japan News article states that the Japanese Embassy has cautioned its nationals: “Do not resist robbers. Prioritize your life and safety above all else.”
In August 2025, Two Japanese Nationals were gunned down by suspects on a motorcycle, as they alighted from a taxi on Malvar Street in Malate, Manila.
Dito Sa Pilipinas has also previously reported on the struggles Japanese-run restaurants and businesses in Manila have been facing as a result of threats, assaults and robberies.
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged residents, tourists and business travelers to monitor official security advisories, and report crimes to local police as soon as it is safe to do so.
Earlier this week, during the Public Hearing of the Committee on Tourism, Senator Erwin Tulfo stated that safety is one of the top concerns for foreign tourists planning a holiday.
He added that safety is not just the responsibility of the Department of Tourism, but also of the entire government, and the peace and security authorities.
Proposal To End PH Travel Tax Submitted
A proposal to end the Travel Tax imposed on Filipino’s leaving the Philippines has been submitted for approval.
House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos submitted House Bill No. 7443 to Congress this week. If approved, it will end the practice of the Travel Tax, which is imposed on Filipino’s when exiting the Philippines.
The proposal aims to reduce the costs of traveling for families, Overseas Filipino workers, and the small businesses that rely on tourism and traveling out of the country. Currently, Filipino’s are charged ₱1,620 if they are traveling economy class, or ₱2,700 if traveling first-class.
Questions about what the Travel Tax is for were raised when hints of the Bill first surfaced last week. The DOT Secretary, Cristina Garcia Fresco responded that the levy is crucial for funding tourism infrastructure (50%), education and training (40%), and heritage preservation (10%).
While being clear that any decision on removing the Travel Tax lies with Congress, Frasco did caution that alternative funding would be needed to avoid damaging tourism development, should the Tax be discontinued.
High Cost PH Domestic Flights To Be Addressed
Department of Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez announced this week that the department is working to address the issue of high cost Domestic Flights, which includes a possible reduction in terminal fees at airports operated by CAAP.
Another proposal is to extend the length of all runways, throughout the Philippines, to a minimum length of 2,100 meters.
This is in response to members of the Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP) advising that the smaller aircraft – needed for short runways – have similar operational costs to bigger planes. Bigger planes have the advantage of being able to sell more seats, and so prices are lower in comparison.
At the end of January 2026, Malacañang Palace confirmed discussions about the high costs of flights had been had with all major carriers. The discussions were held in response to online posts and complaints that domestic flights are more expensive than flights abroad, and at the urging of several members of Congress.
The air carriers have apparently agreed to reduce and cap airfares on the country’s key tourism routes. They also highlighted the operational factors. Especially for flights to island destinations which can only accommodate smaller aircraft.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Department of Transportation are also considering equipping more airports with night-rating capabilities. This will increase the number of “red-eye” flight schedules, giving travelers more options and lower ticket prices.
PAL Moves Planes To Clark
PAL has joined Cebu Pacific in moving their turboprop flights from NAIA to Clark International Airport.
As reported on January 23, all turboprop planes routes, in and out of NAIA, are to be re-routed to Clark International Airport from March 29. The move, under the orders of the Manila Slot Coordination Committee, aims to reduce congestion at NAIA 3.
PAL announced on February 2, that all PAL turboprop flights currently operating to and from Manila will be discontinued effective March 29, 2026.
Passengers with existing bookings for the Manila flights will be re-routed to Cebu, Clark, and Iloilo Airports. The affected routes are as follows:
Manila>Busuanga (Coron)>Manila will change to Clark>Busuanga (Coron)>Clark
Manila>Siargao>Manila will switch to Clark>Siargao>Clark
Manila>Antique>Manila changes to Manila>Iloilo>Manila
Manila>Catarman>Manila will change to Cebu>Catarman>Cebu.
While PAL has committed to adding more flights on its high-demand routes, this decision to move the turboprop flights of all carriers 2 hours away from NAIA Manila, is expected to impact on visitor numbers – both domestic and International – to Siargao, Coron, El Nido in 2026. Destinations that rely on tourism.
People with booked flights for after March 29, will be contacted by PAL and offered options including – re-routing, refund, or travel wallet.
DOT Secretary Continues to Face Criticism
Cristina Garcia Frasco, the Secretary for the Department of Tourism Philippines has continued to face criticism this week, for her alleged ‘self-promotion’ on the DOT Facebook Account, marketing and promotional posts.
During the Senate Tourism Committee hearing, on Tuesday February 3, Sen. Raffy Tulfo also weighed in, questioning Frasco’s use of her image in promotional materials.
In a media forum on Wednesday, Madam Secretary responded:-
“The accusation is that I’m very visible because I wish to promote myself. But could there perhaps be room for the argument that I’m very visible because I’m simply working? Nothing else.”
Certainly the DOT Facebook page is testament to the work being undertaken by Secretary Frasco and, we feel, some of the accusations thrown at her have been unjustified and unfair – see our earlier article Philippine DOT Criticism Fair or Unfair? for our viewpoint.
Rumors began circulating on social media on February 4, suggesting that Secretary Frasco might be asked to step down from her position.
Some netizens suggested that Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, a prominent Filipino businessman and sports executive, was being considered for the position instead. Gregorio is currently serving as Chairperson of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Malacañang has responded stating that that Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco has not been asked to step down, and will remain in her post, dismissing rumors of a leadership change.
PH Amps Up Its Sports Tourism Mantle
The Philippines is strengthening its position as a destination for Sports Tourism, with its latest forum set to take place in Cebu on March 18, 2026.
The Sports Tourism Forum is expected to be attended by officials from tourism, sports, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) industries, and will discuss staging and hosting sporting events to coincide with scheduled meetings, exhibitions and conferences.
Organized by Sports Turismo Alliance, the Philippine Sports Commission and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, this joint approach could boost tourist arrivals, room and venue bookings, and strengthen the sports tourism industry.
Sports officials, clubs and venues, event organizers, corporate sponsors and charitable organizations, and hotels and resorts are all welcome to attend the forum.
Registration is ₱2,500.00, and includes lunch and merienda.
10k OJT Allowance Announced
A Bill was approved this week that will see students receiving an ₱10,000 Internship Allowance on the completion of their on-the-job training program (OJT).
This will be good news for any students studying Hospitality and Tourism Management or Administration courses, many of whom secure OJT placements in hotels and resorts away from their home or region.
The Student Internship Allowance Act, or House Bill 2778, aims to reduce the costs for students who are faced with paying out for transport fares, meals, accommodation and other necessities while undertaking their required OJT placement.
DOT AGODA Partnership
The Department of Tourism celebrated a partnership and Memorandum of Understanding signing with AGODA, during the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2026.
The partnership has been described as strengthening ‘destination promotion, data-driven tourism development, and capacity-building initiatives, while expanding market access and visibility for DOT-accredited tourism enterprises’.
AGODA is, indeed, one of the leading online platforms for hotel bookings and a partnership with them could deliver access to technological and marketing advantages that result in a not-to-be-sniffed-at global reach.
However, we do wonder how much consultation was undertaken with Philippine hoteliers, before collaboration discussions were held. Especially with those who fall under the small or boutique hotel categories.
Platforms like AGODA, Expedia and Booking.com are all currently in a race to survive the arrival and impact of AI Travel ‘advisors’. An arrival which delivers greater advantages for individual hotels to be more visible and discoverable by AI Agents. Direct bookings represent savings on AGODA’s commission fees, and Discount Deal losses.
Only time will tell if this partnership will benefit Philippine hotels and tourism … or AGODA.
PH Leads On ASEAN Tourism GDP But Not Arrivals
The 2025 World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Economic Impact Report – released during the recent ASEAN Tourism Forum – ranks the Philippines as leading Asia for Tourism GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Despite the Philippines having significantly lower international arrival figures than its Asian neighbors.
The WTTC report shows tourism contributing USD 91.8billion to the Philippines’ GDP in 2025, despite only attracting 6.4million foreign national tourists.
In comparison Thailand, which ranked first for foreign national arrivals, attracted 30million tourists, and Vietnam saw 21million visitors.
The Philippines also has the second-largest tourism workforce in ASEAN, representing 23% of the Philippines total national employment.
DOT Secretary Cristina Garcia Frasco acknowledged that the high cost of flights, hotels and resort restaurants, along with the difficulty in getting to some local destinations all impacts on the attractiveness of the Philippines as a vacation for foreign nationals and – therefore arrival numbers.
She assured the public that the DOT would be closely coordinating with all relevant government departments – including the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Transport and LGU’s (Local Government Units), agencies and stakeholders to address the issue of high tourism costs and fees.
Global Industry News
Taiwan Opens PH Overseas Recruitment Center
Taiwan has opened its first Overseas Recruitment Center in Manila. The center will oversee direct government-to-government (G2G) recruitment, and match Filipino workers with verified employers in Taiwan.
Taiwan’s hospitality Industry has identified a shortfall of around 6,600 workers, and employers have recently received government authorization to hire skilled foreign workers for vacant positions.
“This direct G2G cross-border recruitment process between Taiwan and the Philippines will help ensure fair recruitment,” Director Emilie Xung-Chieh Shao, Political Division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO)
Taiwan is facing an increasingly aging population, with 20% of its citizens being 65 or older. A shrinking workforce has led to a need to attract skilled foreign workers to make up the shortfall.
Employers must first evidence they have prioritized hiring and employing native workers before they can proceed with the verification process that will allow them to seek workers from outside of Taiwan.
250,000 Filipino’s currently live and work in Taiwan.
Source: BusinessWorld
