Philippines Ascends Global Tourism: Ranked Among World’s Top Emerging Economies by WEF

Philippines Ascends Global Tourism: Ranked Among World’s Top Emerging Economies by WEF

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | October 4, 2026

Manila, Philippines – The Philippines has been recognized as the seventh-fastest improving tourism economy globally, according to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2026 Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI). This significant leap, climbing eight places to 57th out of 110 economies, highlights substantial progress in sustainability, policy conditions, and transport connectivity.

“This recognition validates the concerted efforts we’ve invested in our tourism sector, from infrastructure to local cultural initiatives,” stated Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay. “While we celebrate this achievement, our commitment to ensuring tourism benefits all Filipino communities through enhanced livelihoods and quality of life remains paramount.”

Sustainability: A Cornerstone of Growth

The nation’s most dramatic improvement was in Travel and Tourism Sustainability, soaring from 64th to 29th. This surge is attributed to stronger scores in nature protection and wastewater treatment. Notably, the Philippines secured the second global ranking in the Travel and Tourism Demand Sustainability pillar, driven by a significant increase in geographically dispersed tourism, rising from an index score of 3.2 to 5.2.

This sustainability success follows recent international accolades, including the Global Dive Destination of the Year at the ADEX Big Blue Legacy Awards 2026 and the Best Dive Destination Award at the DRT Show Shanghai 2026, underscoring the government’s dedication to environmental preservation.

“Our natural and cultural heritage is the heart of the Philippine tourism experience,” Angara-Mathay emphasized. “Protecting these treasures while responsibly managing tourism’s growth and impact is our top priority for future generations.”

Enhanced Connectivity and Security Fuel Progress

Improvements in ground transport and port connectivity were also remarkable, climbing 31 places to 49th, with 26 of these gains realized within the last two years. Higher ratings for seaport, public transport, and train efficiency reflect intensified collaboration between the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on nationwide infrastructure upgrades.

Furthermore, the Philippines advanced from 93rd to 73rd in safety and security, propelled by a substantial decrease in homicide incidents from approximately 10.5 to 4.4 per 100,000 people. This progress is a result of close coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) on tourist safety initiatives, including recently cascaded manuals on tourist safety and disaster response.

Policy and Culture Drive National Success

The country’s strongest-performing dimension was policy and enabling conditions, which climbed from 33rd place in 2019 to an impressive 12th in 2026. This ascent is linked to a significant increase in government spending on tourism, growing from 3.1 percent to 5.8 percent of the national budget.

Culture and heritage also saw remarkable growth, recording the largest score increase across all 17 pillars – a 43 percent rise since 2019. This propelled the Philippines from 52nd to 38th, reflecting broader international recognition, including an increase to five UNESCO Creative Cities from just one in 2019.

With an overall score of 4.08 out of 7, the Philippines is now identified by the WEF as one of the world’s ten major emerging tourism economies, alongside China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Türkiye, Mexico, and Brazil.

The TTDI, a comprehensive assessment tool, evaluates economies across five dimensions and 17 pillars, utilizing 102 indicators to measure the factors enabling sustainable and resilient tourism development. This robust framework underscores the Philippines’ strategic advancements and promising future in the global tourism landscape.