DFA ready to meet any tourist visa demand hike in China – official

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, Philippine News Agency

Escalona, meanwhile, said the DFA would continue working with the DOT, as well as with other relevant government agencies and the private sector, to strengthen Philippine tourism. (File Photo By Lawrence Ruiz, CC BY-SA 4.0)

MANILA – The Philippines is ready to meet the demand should there be an increase in tourist visa applications in China, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Saturday.

In a statement, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Angelica Escalona explained that the visa requirements currently in place are not intended to prevent the entry of tourists into the country.

“(They) are intended precisely to assist the country in ensuring that legitimate travelers are given visas to enter the Philippines,” she said.

“All our Posts are able to meet the current demand for visas. Should the demand increase, the Department is ready to meet any increase in demand.”

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco earlier attributed the Philippines’ missed 2024 target of 7.7 million foreign visitors to various factors, including the “postponed e-Visa program for the Chinese market.”

In a House of Representatives budget hearing, she pointed out that the Philippines “would have been able to bring in” 2 million more in arrivals “had we been able to continue the e-Visa program.”

The DFA declined to further comment when asked if there are still plans to resume the program.

Escalona, meanwhile, said the DFA would continue working with the DOT, as well as with other relevant government agencies and the private sector, to strengthen Philippine tourism.

“In line with its economic diplomacy mandate, the DFA shares the vision of the DOT in enhancing tourist arrivals and strengthening the tourism industry,” she said.

“Our Foreign Service Posts continue to implement tourism promotion activities in this regard.”

Arrivals from the Chinese market from January to August decreased by 24.40 percent to 182,228 from the 241,041 recorded in the same period last year.

Before the pandemic, China was the country’s second top source market with 1.7 million visitors in 2019, lagging only behind South Korea with 1.9 million. China currently ranks fifth on the list.