Villar Urges Bigger 2026 Budget for Tourism to Boost Competitiveness

During deliberations on the proposed 2026 national budget, Senator Mark Villar underscored the need for greater investments in the tourism sector to strengthen the Philippines’ competitiveness in the global market. He argued that boosting tourism spending would maximize economic returns, stressing that investments in infrastructure and related projects directly benefit both local communities and national growth. According to Villar, the Philippines risks lagging behind regional neighbors, noting that airfare to Siargao already costs around ₱18,000—an amount comparable to complete travel packages to other countries such as Vietnam. “Ang gaganda ng offers papuntang Vietnam. Halimbawa, makakakuha ka ng package like three nights or four nights plus round-trip airfare for the equivalent of 18,000 pesos. Eh tayo, ‘yung airfare papuntang Siargao is already 18,000 pesos… hindi talaga tayo competitive kapag dating sa tourism,” Sen. Villar stressed. The senator pointed out that if the government can allocate sufficient resources, tourism could generate substantial revenue while also providing jobs to millions of Filipinos. “I understand there are some technical reasons, tulad ng airport at ‘yung haba ng runway. So it’s really a comprehensive solution. Sana, maganda rin na mag-invest tayo sa tourism infrastructure because it creates [more] jobs… and in other countries in Asia, it is a big source of income,” Villar added. Despite these challenges, Villar maintained that government support for tourism-related infrastructure is worth the investment. “I think para sa government, sulit po ang investment natin sa infrastructure projects related to tourism. I hope that’s given consideration in the budget,” he added. According to Villar, scaling up tourism investments would maximize economic returns, enhance the country’s global competitiveness, and generate long-term growth for local communities.