Top 30 Countries Filipinos Are Visiting in 2025–2026
7.64 million. That is how many Filipinos traveled abroad in 2025. That is not a small number — and it is growing every year.
I have been tracking Filipino outbound travel for years, and every time I look at the data, I am genuinely surprised by what it reveals. Some destinations are obvious. Others are rising fast. And a few are doing so well that I had to double-check the numbers.
This list is not a guess. It is built from official Department of Tourism (DOT) outbound data, Bureau of Immigration (BI) departure records, and regional tourism reports. Ranks 1 to 10 are confirmed by official figures. Ranks 11 to 30 are evidence-based estimates built from airline data, OFW diaspora patterns, and Schengen visa issuance records.
Whether you are planning your next trip or just curious about where your fellow ka-lakwatseras are going — this is the most complete picture available.
📌 Quick note: The Philippines does not officially publish a full Top 30 outbound destinations list. The DOT typically releases only a Top 10–15. Ranks 11–30 in this article are evidence-based estimates, clearly labelled.
The Top 10 Most Visited Countries by Filipinos in 2025
These 10 destinations are confirmed by official DOT and BI data. Together, they account for over 60% of all Filipino outbound travel.
Source: DOT outbound statistics, Bureau of Immigration departure records, Jan–Jul 2025.
Destination Highlights: What the Numbers Actually Tell Us
🇭🇰 #1 Hong Kong — The Undisputed Top Destination
Hong Kong has been the top destination for Filipino travelers for years — and 2025 is no different. With 548,603 Filipino visitors in just the first seven months, it remains far ahead of any other destination.
The reasons are well-established: a large Filipino community, visa-free entry, proximity, affordable flights, and a city that works equally well for family trips, shopping weekends, and solo travel. Disneyland Hong Kong continues to draw Filipino families in particular.
🇯🇵 #2 Japan — The Dream That Never Loses Its Pull
Japan is not just popular. It is aspirational. In survey after survey, it ranks as the number one destination Filipinos want to visit — and the 2025 data shows that aspiration is translating into actual trips.
The weak yen has made Japan more affordable than it has been in years. Expanded direct flights from Manila and Cebu have lowered the barrier further. At 472,077 Filipino visitors in the first half of 2025, it is solidly #2 — and growing.
Yes, a visa is required. But for most Filipinos, it is worth every step of the application process.
🇻🇳 #8 Vietnam — The Biggest Surprise of 2025
This is the number that made me do a double-take: Filipino arrivals in Vietnam grew by 97.8% year-on-year. That is nearly double. In the first seven months of 2025 alone, 200,241 Filipinos visited Vietnam.
What is driving this? No visa required. Cheap direct flights from Manila. A thriving coffee and slow-travel culture that resonates strongly with Filipino millennials and digital nomads. Cities like Hanoi and Da Nang have become staples on the Filipino content creator circuit.
If you have not been to Vietnam yet, this data is telling you something.
🇹🇼 #4 Taiwan & 🇹🇭 #5 Thailand — The Visa-Free Winners
Taiwan recorded a 34.56% jump in Filipino visitors in 2025 — the fastest growth rate in the top 5. Its visa-free policy has been extended through 2026, and the combination of night markets, hot springs, bubble tea culture, and accessible flight prices has made it a go-to for Filipino travelers.
Thailand is not far behind, with a 34.21% increase. Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai consistently appear in Filipino travel feeds — and the budget-friendly nature of the destination keeps conversion high. No visa, cheap accommodation, and endlessly photogenic scenery.
🇸🇦 #6 Saudi Arabia & 🇦🇪 #7 UAE — The Middle East Is Bigger Than You Think
This one surprises people. Saudi Arabia attracted over 436,000 Filipino visitors in 2024 — more than South Korea. The UAE is similarly massive.
The driver is the OFW diaspora. The Philippines has over 10 million overseas Filipino workers, and a significant share are based in the Gulf. When they visit family, when family visits them, when they take vacations — all of that counts as outbound travel. The Middle East accounts for roughly 15% of all Filipino outbound trips.
Ranks 11–20: The High-Traffic Secondary Destinations
These destinations appear consistently in airline capacity data, diaspora travel patterns, and regional tourism reports. They are not official DOT figures, but they are well-supported estimates.
• 🇮🇩 #11 Indonesia (Bali) — The top destination for Filipino content creators and slow travelers. Visa-free.
• 🇲🇾 #12 Malaysia — Budget-friendly, visa-free, and increasingly popular with digital nomads.
• 🇲🇴 #13 Macau — Frequently paired with Hong Kong as a quick side trip.
• 🇦🇺 #14 Australia — A significant Filipino diaspora plus an increasingly accessible e-visa process.
• 🇨🇦 #15 Canada — Diaspora travel, with the eTA option for those who hold a valid US visa.
• 🇶🇦 #16 Qatar · 🇰🇼 #17 Kuwait · 🇴🇲 #18 Oman · 🇧🇭 #19 Bahrain — Major OFW corridors.
• 🇨🇳 #20 China — Business travel and a gradual tourism recovery post-pandemic.
Ranks 21–30: Long-Haul and Aspirational Destinations
Smaller volume, but steady — and growing. These are the destinations that appear in Filipino bucket lists and long-term travel planning.
• 🇹🇷 #21 Turkey — Cappadocia balloon photos. Simplified e-visa process.
• 🇬🇧 #22 United Kingdom — London remains one of the most aspirational cities for Filipino travelers.
• 🇪🇸 #23 Spain — Large Filipino community plus growing Digital Nomad Visa interest.
• 🇮🇹 #24 Italy — Catholic pilgrimages, diaspora travel, and luxury tourism.
• 🇫🇷 #25 France — The classic European honeymoon and anniversary destination.
• 🇩🇪 #26 Germany — Business travel and family visits.
• 🇨🇭 #27 Switzerland — A staple of European tour packages.
• 🇳🇿 #28 New Zealand — Migration and adventure tourism.
• 🇲🇻 #29 Maldives — The premier Filipino honeymoon destination, visa-free on arrival.
5 Trends Shaping Where Filipinos Travel in 2026
1. Visa-Free Destinations Are Winning
Look at the top 5 destinations: Hong Kong, Japan (visa required but popular regardless), Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Four of the five are visa-free for Philippine passport holders. When Filipinos have a choice, they go where the entry barrier is lowest. Taiwan's extension of its visa-free policy through 2026 is a direct example of this effect in action.
2. The Middle East Is an Underreported Travel Story
When people think of Filipino travel, they think Asia and the USA. But the Middle East quietly accounts for 15% of all outbound trips — entirely driven by the OFW diaspora. Saudi Arabia alone outnumbers South Korea in visitor volume. This is a story that deserves more attention.
3. Europe Is Quietly Growing
289,680 Filipinos traveled to Europe in the first seven months of 2025, up 4.5% year-on-year. Spain had the highest growth at 15%, likely influenced by the Digital Nomad Visa. The UK, Italy, and France round out the top European destinations. Europe is no longer just a bucket-list category — it is becoming a real travel trend.
4. Vietnam Is the Fastest-Growing Destination
A 97.8% year-on-year surge is not an anomaly. It is a structural shift. Vietnam has cracked the Filipino travel mainstream — and it shows no signs of slowing down. If you have not built Vietnam content yet, this is your signal.
5. The Philippine Passport Is More Powerful Than Most Filipinos Realize
Of the top 10 most visited destinations, five are visa-free: Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Of the top 30, at least 10 require no visa at all. The narrative that the Philippine passport is weak is simply outdated. Filipinos are traveling more, further, and more frequently than ever before.
Plan Your Next Trip — I Can Help
Whether you are applying for a Schengen visa, figuring out which countries you can enter visa-free, or looking for a TEFL certification to fund your travels — I have resources for all of it.
• Visa guides for 190+ countries: FilipinoPassport.com
• 1-on-1 visa coaching: Use code KACH10 for 10% off our visa assistance services
• Travel tools I personally use: See my full toolkit at TravelwithKach.com
This article is updated regularly as new DOT and BI data becomes available. If you spot anything outdated, send me a message — I read every one.
Sources
All data verified as of March 2026.
• Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) — Outbound travel statistics Jan–Jul 2025
• Bureau of Immigration (BI) Philippines — 2025 departure records (15.6M total processed)
• Philstar / Travel and Tour World — DOT outbound destination rankings Jan–Jul 2025
• Klook Philippines 2025 Travel Pulse Report — Vietnam +239%, Taiwan +120%, Thailand +78%
• Hong Kong Tourism Board — 1.19 million Filipino visitors in 2024 (3rd largest visitor group)
• Philippine News Agency — Taiwan visa-free extension through 2026 confirmed
• ISEAS Survey 2024 — Japan ranked #1 favorite holiday destination by Filipino respondents
• Manila Standard / Philstar — 7.64 million Filipino outbound travelers in 2025
