MANILA — The Philippine government announced the launch of a new 'cruise visa waiver' program on Tuesday, aimed at simplifying entry for foreign tourists arriving via cruise ships, as part of an effort to bolster the country's cruise tourism sector.
According to Philippines News Agency, the new program, accessible through the Bureau of Immigration's e-services portal, is expected to increase the number of cruise passengers considering the Philippines as a destination. Frasco highlighted that this initiative aligns with the Marcos administration’s push for digitalization and is part of the national cruise tourism development strategy. She noted that in 2023, the Philippines welcomed over 101,000 passengers from 123 port calls and anticipates at least 117 port calls this year, potentially bringing in more than 118,000 visitors.
Captain Terence Uytingban, Vice President and Director of Marine Agency Services at Ben Line Agencies, described the visa waiver as a significant advancement for Philippine cruise tourism, marking a shift from previous policies that did not guarantee entry for cruise passengers. He emphasized that this permanent policy change would provide greater certainty to cruise operators and their clients about the feasibility of including the Philippines in their itineraries.
The visa waiver program is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Bureau of Immigration (BI), and the Department of Justice (DOJ). During the launch, DOJ Assistant Secretary Majken Anika Gran-Ong assured that stringent measures would be in place to safeguard the country's borders.
Eligibility for the waiver includes visa-required nationals who arrive and depart via cruise ship solely for tourism purposes and who adhere strictly to the ship's scheduled local itinerary. The waiver allows for a single-entry visit up to a maximum of 14 days and is neither extendable nor convertible to other visa types or statuses.