MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) has invited digital nomads and long-stay travelers to visit the Philippines, touting its English-speaking population that makes travel for foreigners easier.

Speaking at the Skift Asia Forum 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco highlighted Manila’s new measures attract remote workers to live and work in the country.

Last April, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed Executive Order 86 authorizing the issuance of the Digital Nomad Visa (DNV).

“Our focus as well is really to be able to have a strong infrastructure in terms of assisting our digital nomads in the country,” Frasco said in a news release on Friday.

“We work very closely with our regional offices as well as our local government units across the country to make sure that tourism safety is of top priority, as well as opportunities to have cultural experiences in the country are present through our tourism circuits.”

Speaking top executives and decision-makers in the tourism industry, Frasco said the Philippines not only offers low-cost stays but also cultural and immersive experiences.

The country, she added, has a population “unparalleled in terms of its hospitality, warmth, and proficiency for English”.

DOT: Digital nomad visa to boost spending, off-peak season tourism

Beyond digital nomads, the government is also focused on inviting more foreigners to retire in the country through its Special Resident Retiree's Visa.

The Philippines, Frasco said, aims to attract “respectful tourists” who contribute positively to local communities through sustainable tourism practices.

“We've heard of world-renowned Philippine islands like Palawan —which has just been declared as the World's Best Island, Boracay, Siargao, just to name a few, where we are welcoming people who seek to have immersive adventures as well as cultural experiences while they're able to work,” she said.

“[T]he vision for the country is to be able to attract travelers that are quality in terms of their respect for our framework towards sustainable tourism as well as travelers that are able to benefit our communities by way of higher tourism spendings as well as repeat visits.”

Frasco said the Marcos administration is also working to improve digital connectivity across the country by partnering with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to enhance Wi-Fi services in over 90 destinations.

Held annually, the Skift Asia Forum convenes the travel industry’s top executives, decision-makers, and thought leaders to discuss the most pressing developments shaping the sector.

It serves as a critical touchpoint for those driving transformation across airlines, hospitality, tourism boards, tech platforms, and more. (PNA)