THE government's decision to grant 14-day visa-free entry to Chinese nationals will help make the Philippines a preferred destination, the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) said on Friday.
Chinese visitors should present a passport valid for at least six months, confirmed hotel accommodations and return or onward ticket to avail of visa-free entry via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
"We at the FFCCCII believe that tourism is the quintessential low-hanging fruit of the Philippine economy,” FFCCCII President Victor Lim said.
"We are blessed not with potential, but with proven, world-class assets: the legendary Filipino hospitality and the breathtaking, natural beauty of our tropical archipelago. This policy directs a powerful economic engine toward the heart of our nation."
The 14-day visa free entry policy is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to facilitate trade, investments and tourism, as well as strengthen people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and China.
Lim noted that Chinese outbound travel was on track to surpass the pre-pandemic peak of 155 million journeys and projected to exceed 200 million by 2028.
He also said that the government's directive was not just about tourism but also to create sustainable livelihoods, empower local entrepreneurs and foster economic growth.
"We shall mobilize our extensive business networks here and abroad to promote the Philippines not only to the vast Chinese tourist market but to the world, advocating for a tourism model that is sustainable, and beneficial to all," Lim said.
Based on Department of Tourism data, the Philippines recorded 5.606 million international visitors as of Dec. 20, 2025, with China on sixth place as a source market with 262,144 visitors.
