The Philippines, recently named Asia's best cruise destination, has introduced a special visa waiver program to facilitate easier entry and travel for cruise tourists.
Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) Norman Tansingco said the cruise visa waiver program supports their goal of positioning the Philippines as the cruise hub of Asia.
The Philippines earned the title of Asia's Best Cruise Destination at the World Cruise Awards last year, a highly esteemed accolade in the global cruise tourism industry. Under the new visa waiver program, launched on July 16, eligible cruise tourists can enter the Philippines and stay for up to 14 days without a visa, according to the Inquirer news site.
To qualify, tourists must arrive and depart via cruise ship, be managed by a BI-accredited cruise tour operator, and possess a passport valid for at least 6 months from their arrival date.
The visa waiver program is non-extendible and non-convertible to other visa types or statuses. It is exclusively available to tourists who adhere to their original itinerary upon application.
In 2023, the Philippines hosted 123 port calls, welcoming 101,000+ passengers.