Philippine Tourism Department Seeks to Extend 14-Day Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Visitors as Arrivals Near 394,000, Up Almost 70%
MANILA — The Philippine Department of Tourism is actively seeking to renew and eventually expand visa-free entry for Chinese tourists. Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the immediate priority is to extend the existing arrangement first, before pursuing wider access to more destinations, particularly beach areas. The proposed extension still requires approval from the Department of Foreign Affairs and consultations with other government agencies, and the department has submitted an economic paper supporting renewal.
Under the arrangement in force since January 16 this year, Chinese nationals may enter the Philippines visa-free for up to 14 days for tourism or business, but only through Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila or Mactan-Cebu International Airport. The 14-day stay cannot be extended or converted to another visa category.
Tourism department figures show Chinese visitor arrivals reached 394,384 as of November 4, up 69.78 percent from the same period last year, lifting China to the Philippines' fourth-largest source of foreign visitors, from sixth. Angara-Mathay argued that tighter monitoring can address security concerns without shutting out legitimate visitors.
The arrangement has also drawn scrutiny. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said on November 7 that, according to his office's study, about 1 percent of Chinese visitors who entered visa-free during the programme's first two months did not return to China, and he questioned how such visitors are monitored. He did not publish a dataset or methodology supporting the estimate.
(Source: Department of Tourism, Philippines)
Source: Department of Tourism, Philippines
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：马尼拉尼诺·阿基诺国际机场第一航站楼值机大厅（资料图，Aliceinthealice 摄，CC0，经 Wikimedia Commons）。 / Photo: Check-in hall of Terminal 1 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila (file photo by Aliceinthealice, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons).
