President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed authorities to enhance the e-visa system for Indian nationals in a bid to increase tourism in the Philippines. This announcement was made during a meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council – Tourism Sector Group (PSAC-TSG) held at Malacañang on Wednesday.
“We don’t have any such issues [with India]. So, I’m sure we can use their system,” Marcos stated, emphasizing the potential for adopting and improving the existing framework.
LT Group president and CEO Lucio Tan, also a PSAC-TSG member, highlighted the inefficiencies of the current e-visa system. He noted that Indian tourists are still required to make a personal appearance at the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi, which hinders the process.
“The e-visa processing for Indian tourists can take around a month,” Tan pointed out. This lengthy duration makes the Philippines less appealing as a travel destination for Indian visitors.
To address these concerns, Tan proposed engaging a third-party service provider to expedite the e-visa processing. This, he believes, would not only speed up the system but also increase the number of applications.
Currently, the e-visa system for Indians is only piloted for walk-in clients at the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi.
According to the PSAC-TSG, Indian tourists are valuable “repeat visitors,” staying an average of eight nights and spending approximately $100 per person per day. The majority, about 78 percent, stay in hotels and partake in activities such as shopping, sightseeing, beach holidays, diving, and visiting friends and relatives. Additionally, many invest in local businesses.
The group also noted that India’s expanding economy and growing middle class could drive outbound trips to reach 30 million by 2025, presenting a significant opportunity for the Philippines to tap into this market.
