The Philippines is strengthening its position as a leading Muslim-friendly travel destination while continuing to post solid growth in international visitor arrivals this year.
According to the 2026 Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), published by Mastercard and CrescentRating, the Philippines was the standout performer among non-Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) destinations this year. The country climbed three places to fifth among non-OIC destinations and recorded the largest improvement in score among all markets assessed.
Philippines turning increasingly Muslim-friendly
The report described the Philippines as posting the “single highest index momentum shift” among non-OIC destinations, reflecting what it called a strong and coordinated effort to build a more inclusive tourism ecosystem that caters to the needs of Muslim travelers.
Globally, the Philippines jumped nine places to 27th position, achieving a score of 58, up from 53 last year. The country also joined a select group of destinations recognized for high levels of stakeholder awareness of Muslim travel requirements, language accessibility, and tourism infrastructure.
CrescentRating Head of Research and Capacity Building Tawfiq Ikhtianto said the rankings take into account factors such as government promotion, tourism events, and the availability of facilities tailored to Muslim travelers.
He highlighted significant growth in halal-certified restaurants and hotels offering Muslim-friendly amenities as key drivers behind the Philippines’ improved performance.
The GMTI report also cited the Department of Tourism’s decision to integrate faith-based tourism offerings early in its planning and development strategies, helping improve the country’s visibility and appeal among Muslim travelers worldwide.
Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay welcomed the recognition and said Muslim-friendly tourism remains a strategic priority: “The halal economy has become a major global growth sector,” she said. “For the Philippines, this represents a significant opportunity that translates into jobs, income generation, business growth, and expanding industries.”
The secretary said the government intends to continue developing the sector through initiatives such as the Salaam Expo, which this year featured more than a dozen exhibitors showcasing halal tourism products and services.
She also pledged to strengthen the country’s halal certification capabilities and work closely with regional partners including Malaysia and Brunei, both widely recognized for their mature halal ecosystems.
The goal, she said, is to improve standards, certification expertise, and industry capacity while supporting a more integrated regional halal economy.
International arrivals rise with the U.S.A. being number one
The positive developments in Muslim-friendly tourism come as the Philippines records continued growth in overseas visitor arrivals.
The Department of Tourism reported that the country welcomed 2,955,014 international visitors between January 1 and June 16, representing a 6.16% increase compared with the same period last year.
The United States has emerged as the Philippines’ largest source market, with 591,569 American travelers visiting during the period.
“The United States has now become our number one source market, with more than half a million visitors and still growing,” Angara-Mathay said.
While the rise in visitor numbers is encouraging, she stressed that the broader economic benefits are the real measure of success.
“What matters even more is what these arrivals translate into—more jobs, more investments, and more opportunities reaching communities across the country,” she said.
According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, tourism contributed 8.1% of the country’s gross domestic product in 2025 and supported approximately 7.71 million jobs.
To sustain growth, the Department of Tourism plans to work with the Department of Transportation, airlines, airports, and tourism operators to expand domestic and international air connectivity.
The strategy focuses not only on protecting existing routes but also on launching new services that provide direct access to tourism destinations throughout the archipelago.
Angara-Mathay added that the government’s objective is not simply to attract more visitors but to encourage longer stays, higher visitor spending, and deeper engagement with local communities.
The Philippines welcomed a total of 6.48 million international visitors in 2025, and should be close to 7 million foreign travelers in 2026.
