Philippines climbs to 57th in World Economic Forum tourism index

The Philippines has risen to 57th place globally in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2026 Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI), marking an eight-place jump from 2024 and a 12-place improvement since 2019. The country achieved a score of 4.08 out of 7.

While the Philippines has shown strong gains in cultural resources and air connectivity, the WEF report highlights that future growth depends on shifting focus from visitor volume to the quality of infrastructure and services. The report identifies tourist services and infrastructure as the most significant gaps between emerging tourism economies and the top 20 global performers.

As a lower-middle-income economy, the Philippines faces specific challenges including regulatory barriers, limited access to finance, and workforce capability gaps. The country is part of a broader trend in Southeast Asia, which has become one of the fastest-improving subregions in the Asia-Pacific.