Philippines launches Cruise Visa Waiver Program for foreign tourists

The Philippines has introduced a cruise visa waiver program to facilitate easier entry for visa-required foreigners vacationing on cruise ships, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced on Wednesday.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI), in collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), has officially launched the Cruise Visa Waiver program.

The program, announced on July 16 at the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Authority (TIEZA) in Pasay City, was attended by Secretary of Tourism Christina Garcia Frasco, TIEZA COO Mark Lapid, and BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco.

"The cruise visa waiver program supports our goal of making the Philippines the cruise hub of Asia," said BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco.

"The cruise visa waiver is a significant step in revitalizing our tourism industry after the pandemic. It ensures that cruise tourists can easily visit and enjoy our beautiful country," Tansingco added, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

The program allows visa-required foreign nationals to enter the Philippines for a limited duration strictly for cruise tourism purposes.

The cruise visa waiver is non-convertible and non-extendable, requiring the bearer to arrive and depart on the same cruise ship, the bureau clarified.

Over 101,000 passengers made 123 port visits to the Philippines in 2023.

The country is expected to have 117 cruise calls with an estimated 118,000 passengers in 2024 thanks to the recently implemented Cruise Visa Waiver programme.

It is anticipated that this rise will have a major impact on the expansion of the tourism sector and the economic recovery.

“The pandemic had a profound impact on our tourism sector, but with initiatives like the Cruise Visa Waiver, we are confident in our ability to rebound stronger,” said Tansingco.

“This program is a testament to our dedication to enhancing the tourist experience while ensuring national security.”

Source : https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visit/philippines-launches-cruise-visa-waiver-program-for-foreign-tourists/articleshow/111811498.cms