Ramon R. Jimenez Jr., secretary for the department of tourism in the Philippines, stated: “There’s going to be a very dramatic acceleration. Growth is a reality. The Philippines will be a place to watch.”

Increased airlift is one of the principal factors that will lead to this growth, Jimenez Jr. explained.

“We are unique in terms of arrivals [as an archipelago] 99% of our arrivals are by air,” he said.

In October Turkish Airlines increased the frequency of flights from Istanbul to Philippine capital Manila from three times a week to a daily service.

Jimenez Jr. suggested that new airlift between Europe and the Philippines with Cebu Air Pacific was imminent following the April 2014 announcement that the EU had lifted its ban on the carrier, allowing them to fly into European airspace.

“Cebu Air Pacific is just lining up its marbles. Low-cost carriers do have a bias for smaller aircraft [so they are simply] awaiting larger aircraft [to serve the long-haul routes]. We are within a year of a major initiative in that area. It could prove a huge boost.”

The secretary also revealed that air agreements with the Philippines’ neighbouring markets had already been renewed, and that the country has “practically an open skies agreement” with countries such as Japan, allowing for increased visitor numbers.

Cruise could be another growth market, added Jimenez Jr. “The development of cruise tourism routes is within three to four years from today,” he said.

The potential to welcome increasing numbers of foreign tourists in the near future comes on the back of a successful year.  

“The Year of the Philippines has been quite a success,” he said. “We’ve been breaking records every month of 2015. All our top 10 markets are growing. We’re averaging 9% growth in arrivals per annum. As recently as five years ago [we received] less than three million tourists. We’re now beyond the five million mark and well on our way to doubling business by 2016.”  

Korea is still the number one source market for the Philippines, while Malaysia represents its fastest growing market, though the country is set to turn its attention to Europe. “We have a very special interest in Europe,” said Jimenez Jr. “We believe Europeans are the right market for the Philippines.”

The secretary shook off concerns over insurgency in the Philippines’ southernmost islands. “These incidents are the exception not the rule,” he said, adding that issues have arisen from visitors who have not heeded local advice.

“Some of the recent problems are from people who went to tribal places where they shouldn’t have been in the first place. Unfortunately we cannot control these things 100%.”