7,641 Reasons to Love the Philippines

As diplomatic ties between the Philippines and India scale new heights, a significant dimension of this relationship is being built not in boardrooms but on beaches, dive sites, and over shared meals. At the heart of this cultural convergence is Philippine Secretary of Tourism Christina Garcia Codilla-Frasco, who was in New Delhi as part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s state visit to India.

In an exclusive interview, Secretary Frasco sat down with us for a wide-ranging and candid conversation about tourism, trade, and the promise of direct people-to-people connectivity between the two countries.

“The visit of our President has been both productive and promising,” she said. “We believe that the age of transformation for tourism for both our countries has officially begun.”

The announcement of visa-free entry for Indian tourists for up to 14 days was met with enthusiasm from both Indian travel stakeholders and the Philippine delegation. According to Frasco, this move, paired with new flight connectivity, creates fertile ground for a tourism boom.

“These are, I think, the perfect ingredients for tourism in the Philippines,” she said with a laugh. “With this ease of access, as well as the much shortened travel time from an average of 13 to 20 hours to just six hours. These we anticipate to offer very attractive opportunities for Indian travellers to the Philippines.”

Flights That Redraw the Map

The upcoming direct Air India flights from Delhi to Manila, set to launch on October 1, 2025, are seen as a major game-changer, especially since it's the first such non-stop connection in 15 years. Frasco described the new route as “very promising, especially that accessibility was one of the biggest hurdles that we had in coming into the country.”

“We are hopeful that these five times a week flights will just be the beginning of what we hope to be a multi-city and multi-island connectivity between India and the Philippines,” she added. “We hope to be able to expand from Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and other key cities, not just to Manila, but also to Cebu.”

Cebu, Frasco’s home province, plays a key role in this vision. With a strong airport, MICE-ready infrastructure, and proximity to nature, it exemplifies the Philippine approach of combining business and leisure.

Tourism as Soft Power

While infrastructure and access are essential, Frasco insists the deeper goal is cultural connection. “In a world that is so divided, conflicted and polarised, tourism continues to provide a foundation that, beyond our differences all over the world, we have common ground. That is our desire to foster a human connection and tourism provides that.”

This commitment is built into the Philippines’ tourism approach. Frasco explained that the department’s Filipino Brand of Service Excellence programme has trained over 322,000 frontline tourism workers in values that include cultural sensitivity, something Indian tourists will find especially welcoming.

Why the Philippines? Why Now?

When asked what makes the Philippines a compelling destination for Indians, Frasco replied, “Well, I won't just offer you 10, I will offer you 7,641 reasons to visit the Philippines.”

She elaborated, “Each destination offers a different, rich, and diversifying cultural and immersive experience. Whether you're seeking our world-class beaches, our emerging island destinations, our dive destinations, the Philippines has that to offer.”

The top recommendations include Palawan (“considered by many as the last frontier”), Boracay (“home to very many different tiered accommodations and world-class facilities”), and Bohol, now a UNESCO Geopark.

Frasco also highlighted that the Philippines is well-suited for Indian weddings, family holidays, education tourism, and adventure seekers. “We're very big on family travel. We have private sector tourism packages already for Indian weddings.”

Affordability with Authenticity

“What the Philippines is able to offer is truly a value-for-money proposition, where you're able to experience the luxury of having an immersive, purposeful, unforgettable, and world-class experience at relatively affordable rates,” she said.

From the forthcoming VAT refund law to digital nomad visas and a growing number of halal-certified properties, the Philippines is widening its appeal. “Whether you're a luxury traveller or a medium-tier traveller or a budget traveller, there's something for you in the country.”

Frasco also underscored the advantage of a shared language, “The very high proficiency of the population in English is of utmost importance and significance for Indian travellers. We immediately offer ESO communication as well as the assurance that when you come to the Philippines, you won't have any difficulties going around, getting assistance and the like.”

An Open Invitation

As the conversation closed, Frasco shared a personal invitation that embodied the warmth and sincerity the Philippines is known for.

“The story is one that you must experience for yourself. Where you arrive as a guest and you leave as family. We are able to offer a rich, immersive, purposeful, and cultural experience like no other. Because as you enjoy our world-class beaches, our stunning dive sites and mountainscapes, as you immerse in our gastronomic offerings, you do all of this while experiencing the unparalleled love and warmth of the people that have encouraged those that have come up on our shores to come back again and again. There's more than 7,000 reasons to visit the Philippines, and we have offerings for every type of traveller and truly there are so many reasons to discover and love the Philippines.”