The Department of Tourism (DOT) has called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to fast-track the full implementation of the Philippines’ e-Visa system and lure back tourists with its eVisa program.
The Philippines is aiming to reach 7.7 million tourists by the end of 2024. The country hopes to
“As far as arrivals are concerned, unless and until we are able to fully ease the convenience of coming into the Philippines, especially as far as e-visas are concerned, it does remain a challenge,” Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said at the 2024 post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) discussions in Pasay City.
In his third SONA, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared that the implementation of the Philippine e-Visa would be next in his administration’s digital agenda.
Frasco was positive that this directive would bring in more inbound tourists. She said more tourists can make the Philippines “shoulder to shoulder” with neighboring countries that have e-Visa systems.
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Target tourists from China, India, Korea, and Japan
The target market for the e-Visa is India. This country has become one of the biggest outbound travel markets in the world.
A potential boost in Indian arrival is also seen to help compensate for the slow recovery of the Chinese market.
Before the pandemic, China was the country’s second top source market with 1.7 million visitors in 2019. It lags only behind South Korea with 1.9 million.
Arrivals from China were at 263,834 in 2023, while South Korean visitors to the Philippines reached 1.4 million.
In January, Marcos ordered government to act on the extension of e-Visa for Chinese, Indian, South Korean and Japanese nationals.
Earlier this month, he instructed a review to streamline the e-Visa system for Indian nationals. The system is in beta testing at present, and piloted only for walk-in clients of the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi.
Tourism revenues in 2023
While inbound arrivals still fall short of the pre-pandemic figures, Frasco said the country has already recovered over 100 percent of its tourism revenues in 2023.
It also exceeded the 94 percent global average of recovery as far as visitor receipts are concerned, she added.
The DOT recorded more than P480 billion in international tourism receipts in 2023, up by 124 percent from the P214.5 billion it generated in the previous year.
The total foreign arrivals in 2019 reached 8.3 million, including non-resident overseas Filipinos, largely from South Korea, China, the US, Japan, and Taiwan.
What is the Philippine e-Visa system?
The e-Visa system is simply an online electronic visa application system which allows applicants to complete their applications at their own pace. They also have the ability to save their progress and return to it later. The government hopes it can lure back tourists with this eVisa program.
What are the steps to get an eVisa?
Submit original documents
Applicants may be requested by the visa officer to submit your original documents either via courier or personal submission at the Embassy or Consulate. Furthermore, you may also be given a schedule for a physical interview at the Embassy or Consulate for further evaluation of your e-Visa application.
After payment, please wait for your e-Visa application to be processed and, monitor your account to view the progress of your e-Visa application.
Receive your e-Visa via email and registered e-Visa account
Your e-Visa will be sent to your email and account once approved. After receiving and downloading your e-Visa, you can now register using your e-Visa account in the Philippine One-Stop Electronic Travel Declaration System (e-Travel) within 72 hours before your arrival in the Philippines.
Source: PNA. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1229603
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