Philippines Waives Visas for Chinese Travelers to Boost Tourism
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A file photo shows the scenery of Boracay Island in the Philippines. On Jan. 15, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs announced that starting Jan. 16, 2026, Chinese citizens can enter the Philippines visa-free for a stay of up to 14 days. Photo: Visual China
The Philippines began allowing Chinese citizens visa-free entry for up to 14 days starting Friday, joining Southeast Asian neighbors in a bid to woo back the region’s biggest spenders and revitalize a tourism sector that has trailed the broader regional recovery.
The country’s Department of Foreign Affairs announced the measure on Thursday, stating the program is effective Jan. 16, 2026, and will be trialed for one year.
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- The Philippines will allow Chinese tourists and business visitors visa-free entry for 14 days, trialing the policy from January 16, 2026, via main airports.
- In 2025, Chinese tourist arrivals dropped to 262,000 from 1.74 million in 2019; overall foreign visitors in 2024 reached 5.95 million, 72% of 2019 levels.
- Neighboring countries like Malaysia and Singapore saw Chinese arrivals surge by over 120% after implementing visa waivers.
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Who’s Who
- AirAsia Philippines
- AirAsia Philippines suspended all flights from Manila to mainland China in September 2024. This decision was made due to low demand for these routes. The lack of air connectivity is a significant hurdle for the Philippines in attracting Chinese tourists, with direct flight capacity to China at only about 45% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2025.
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What Happened When
- Late 2023：
- Malaysia implemented visa-free entry for Chinese citizens.
- September 2024：
- AirAsia Philippines suspended all flights from Manila to the Chinese mainland.
- November 2025：
- The Philippines restored electronic visa services for Chinese citizens for trips up to 14 days.
- By the end of 2025：
- Direct flight capacity between China and the Philippines had recovered to only about 45% of pre-pandemic levels.
- January 16, 2026：
- The Philippines will begin allowing Chinese citizens visa-free entry for up to 14 days, to be trialed for one year.
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