Published on: January 16, 2026, 01:22h.
Updated on: January 16, 2026, 01:37h.
- The Philippines has initiated a visa-free program for travelers from China.
- This allows Chinese nationals to visit the Philippines for a duration of 14 days without a visa.
The government of the Philippines is now allowing a two-week entry exemption for visitors from China, effective immediately.
On Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines announced the launch of a 14-day visa exemption for travelers from the People’s Republic, aimed at fostering trade, investment, and tourism. With the addition of China, the Philippines’ visa-free program now extends to a total of 12 countries.
“Chinese nationals visiting the Philippines exclusively for tourism or business purposes can enjoy this new visa waiver. This privilege allows for a non-extendable 14-day stay and cannot be changed to any other Philippine visa type,” stated the DFA.
Upon arrival, Chinese visitors utilizing the visa-free scheme must enter through Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila or Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu. They are required to present a valid passport that is valid for at least six months beyond their intended stay in the Philippines.
Additionally, travelers must provide proof of hotel reservations or accommodations, as well as a confirmed return flight ticket out of the Philippines.
Access to Casinos
The visa-free initiative for tourism to the Philippines from China is expected to remain in effect until at least January 2027. This development significantly eases travel for mainlanders wishing to visit the country’s prominent casino resorts located in Manila.
This area is known as Entertainment City, hosting major establishments such as Melco Resorts’ City of Dreams, Bloomberry Resorts’ Solaire, Universal Entertainment’s Okada, and Alliance Global’s Newport World Resorts.
As of 2025, the Philippines experienced an economic slowdown attributed to external challenges. Although domestic demand remained resilient, global experts suggest that the Philippines needs to encourage investments and implement governmental reforms to invigorate the economy in 2026.
According to the most recent report from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) for the third quarter of 2025, the four casinos in Entertainment City earned gross gaming revenue of PHP37.43 billion (approximately US$630.1 million), marking an almost 11% decline compared to the same quarter in 2024.
Investment bank Maybank considers the inclusion of China in the visa exemption initiative a strategic advantage for both the Philippines and its Manila-based casinos.
“This rollout is likely to allow for increased flight routes and frequencies, while longer stays across islands will support revenue growth into 2026,” the bank reported.
Decline in Tourism
For the second consecutive year, tourism arrivals in the Philippines have seen a decrease.
The Department of Tourism in the Philippines has revealed that overall visitor numbers fell from six million in 2024 to 5.9 million last year. South Korea remains the top source market, contributing over 1.4 million visitors.
To boost tourism, the Philippine government has allocated $21.9 million for promotion in key international markets this year.
A major event planned for 2026 is the ASEAN Tourism Forum, which will be held from January 28-30 in Mactan, Cebu. The theme for this year’s forum is “Navigating Our Tourism Future, Together.”
ASEAN member countries include Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.