The Philippines will soon drop the Covid-19 test requirements for incoming visitors and the mask-wearing mandate for indoor settings.
This was announced by tourism secretary Christina Garcia Frasco on October 25 in a press briefing, following the Cabinet Meeting with the country’s president Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
Indoor mask-wearing will still be required on public transport, medical transport and in medical facilities. For the unvaccinated, individuals with comorbidities, and senior citizens, mask-wearing is still highly recommended.
Fully-vaccinated visitors entering the Philippines will be allowed entry into the country without the Covid-19 test requirement, while unvaccinated guests are given the option to take an antigen test 24 hours before travel or upon arrival in the Philippines.
This policy is in line with the president’s vision to facilitate ease of travel and tourist convenience and will supersede the stringent Covid-19 test and quarantine requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated visitors.
In addition, the Philippines recently announced the removal of the One Health Pass (OHP) to make way for the e-Arrival Cards which aims to simplify the entry procedures for travellers.
As of October 24, 2022, the DoT has recorded 1.8 million visitor arrivals exceeding the 1.7 million projection for the current year.
The biggest bulk of tourists came from the US at 346,806, followed by South Korea with 250,021, and Australia with 85,986.
