TravTalk India Online Magazine
The Philippines is aligning its hospitality offerings with Indian preferences. ‘We are working to develop customised travel packages and experiences catering to Indian travellers,’ says H.E. Josel Francisco Ignacio, Ambassador of the Philippines to India. Both nations are set to announce new initiatives to encourage travel and strengthen tourism linkages.
Surbhi Sharma
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) of the Philippines recently hosted an ‘Itinerary Workshop’ in Delhi, bringing together leading luxury travel agents for an exclusive interactive session. The initiative aimed to strengthen tourism partnerships and equip Indian travel professionals with insights into the Philippines’ diverse offerings. The event underscored the Philippines’ commitment to positioning itself as a preferred destination for Indian outbound travellers, particularly as the two countries enter what H.E. Josel Francisco Ignacio, Ambassador of Philippines to India, calls a Gold Deluxe Zone — a phase of perfect balance for tourism growth marked by visa liberalisation, air connectivity restoration, and strong bilateral cooperation.
Growing arrivals & shared tourism goals
Emphasising that Indians are emerging as the 5th largest outbound travel groups globally, Ambassador Ignacio said, “We want to capture the share of this rapidly expanding market. Adding to the momentum, Air India’s direct Delhi–Manila flights launched in October have proved to be a game changer, cutting travel time to just six and a half hours.”
He revealed that the country welcomed 82,925 Indian tourists between January and September, a 7.93 per cent year-on-year growth. In 2024, the country recorded over 78,000 Indian arrivals, up 12.4 per cent from 2023. Filipino visitors to India have also rebounded close to the pre-pandemic levels, underscoring growing reciprocal tourism between the two nations.
“This momentum is the result of a collective commitment by both governments and private sectors. We are at an unprecedented juncture in Philippines–India tourism relations,” he said.
Tailoring customised travel packages
Ambassador Ignacio said that the Philippines is working to develop customised travel packages and experiences catering to Indian travellers, aligning its hospitality offerings with Indian preferences. Both nations are set to announce new initiatives to encourage travel and strengthen tourism linkages, highlighting the sector’s immense potential and promising future.
He expressed optimism that ongoing initiatives like Fam trips, sponsored tours, and itinerary workshops will help Indian travel agents curate better experiences for a variety of traveller segments — from leisure and luxury seekers to film and MICE markets.
