Cruise tourists seen exceeding 185,000

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine cruise tourism is projected to have its biggest year since the pandemic, as arrivals are expected to surpass 185,000 in 2025 due to the development of new ports and entry of more vessels.

In 2024, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) recorded a 62 percent increase in passenger traffic from cruise ships, reaching 142,574, from 88,080 in 2023.

This marks the highest cruise passenger volume in the pandemic aftermath, but is nowhere near the pre-pandemic high of 451,063 in 2018.

In spite of this, PPA general manager Jay Santiago said the Philippines would inch closer to its pre-pandemic record this year. The PPA expects passenger volume from cruise ships to go up by 30 percent to 185,000 in 2025.

The PPA is developing dedicated ports for cruise ships around the archipelago. Santiago is banking on these cruise terminals to attract more shipping lines to dock in the Philippines.

The agency is scheduled to open this year the P620.64-million cruise port in surfing haven Siargao, pinning hope that it would bring high-spending tourists to the destination.

Further, the PPA is planning a similar facility worth P706.05 million for summer getaway Puerto Galera, and is set to open proposals for the project this week.

On top of this, the PPA has welcomed shipcalls from new vessels recently, including MS Europa 2, a Malta-flagged cruise carrying 453 passengers that docked in Bohol.