THE country’s tourism industry contributed 8.9 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024, with its total value reaching P2.35 trillion, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Thursday, June 19, 2025.
The Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA) posted an 11.2 percent increase from P2.12 trillion in 2023, underscoring the sector’s continued recovery and expansion after the pandemic years.
Domestic tourism was a key driver of growth, with local visitor spending rising by 16.4 percent to P3.16 trillion in 2024 from P2.71 trillion the previous year.
Outbound tourism expenditure also surged by 37.5 percent, reaching P345.68 billion, reflecting the growing appetite of Filipino travelers for international trips.
Inbound tourism, which accounts for spending by foreign visitors, recorded a modest 0.4 percent increase, from P697.49 billion in 2023 to P699.98 billion in 2024.
Combined, internal tourism expenditure — which includes both inbound and domestic spending — grew by 13.1 percent year-on-year to P3.86 trillion.
The Tourism Satellite Account tracks spending on accommodation, food and beverage services, transport, travel agency services, entertainment, shopping and other tourism-related goods and services.
Employment in tourism-related industries also rose to an estimated 6.75 million in 2024, up 6.1 percent from 6.37 million in 2023. Tourism-related j obs now account for 13.8 percent of the country’s total employment, reflecting the sector’s crucial role in the national labor market.
Tourism remains a key pillar of the Philippine economy, with the government continuing to promote both domestic travel and international arrivals as part of its broader economic strategy. / KOC