The Philippines is set to strengthen its presence on the global tourism map through a newly signed partnership between the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Emirates Airlines, one of the world’s leading carriers.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was officially signed on April 28 by DOT Undersecretary Verna C. Buensuceso and Orhan Abbas, Emirates’ Senior Vice President for Commercial Operations, Far East. Witnessing the signing was Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, who emphasized that the collaboration is crucial in positioning the Philippines as a top leisure gateway for travelers from the Middle East and Europe. She also noted that the agreement would offer more flight options for overseas Filipinos eager to visit home.
Under the agreement, both parties will roll out joint promotional efforts aimed at boosting the Philippines’ visibility, particularly in the Middle East, Mediterranean, and European markets. They will also work together to explore additional initiatives that could further enhance flight connectivity and tourism growth, leveraging Emirates’ extensive global network.
Emirates’ Orhan Abbas described the partnership as a reflection of the strong appeal the Philippines holds internationally. “Emirates began serving the Philippines nearly 35 years ago, making it one of the longest-served destinations across our entire global network,” he said, adding that the country remains a key destination for both leisure and business travelers.
The collaboration comes at a time when the Philippines is seeing a significant rebound in visitor arrivals. As of April 25, 2025, more than 21,000 travelers from the United Arab Emirates had visited the country, with tourism revenues from the region showing impressive recovery since the borders reopened in 2022.
Through this alliance, the DOT hopes to attract even more visitors and reaffirm the Philippines’ place as a premier destination for global travelers.
