The Department of Tourism (DOT) is encouraging more Filipinos to discover destinations closer to home through its newly launched “Discover More to Love” campaign. The initiative brings together hotels, tour operators, and other tourism stakeholders to offer curated experiences and discounted travel packages aimed at making local travel more accessible and affordable.
Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the campaign complements the DOT’s “Love the Philippines” brand by giving travelers the freedom to create their own unique journeys while supporting local tourism communities.
Affordable Travel Packages Aim to Inspire More Filipinos
The campaign comes as domestic tourism continues to play a vital role in the country’s economy. In 2025, local travelers generated PHP3.26 trillion in tourism spending, a 3-percent increase from the previous year.
According to Angara-Mathay, Filipinos, particularly younger travelers, remain eager to explore new destinations. Through bundled travel offers and special deals, the DOT hopes to encourage more people to travel around the country while making trips easier to plan and budget for.
DOT Eyes Growth in International Arrivals
Alongside its domestic tourism push, the DOT is also working to attract more foreign visitors amid increasing competition from neighboring Southeast Asian destinations. Angara-Mathay noted that countries such as Vietnam have gained popularity among Korean travelers due to lower travel costs.
To strengthen the Philippines’ position, the DOT is collaborating with industry partners to develop more competitive tour bundles that offer better value and more predictable travel expenses.
Latest DOT data showed that the United States is currently the country’s leading source of foreign visitors, with 591,569 arrivals recorded from January to June 17. Despite global tourism challenges, Angara-Mathay remains optimistic that the Philippines can achieve at least 6.4 million inbound tourist arrivals by the end of 2026.
