Philippines and Emirates Airline team up to take tourism to new heights

Manila: The Department of Tourism (DOT) and Emirates Airlines have officially joined forces to put the Philippines front and centre on the global travel map — especially for adventurers from the Middle East, Mediterranean, and Europe.

In a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on Monday, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said the partnership would roll out fresh promotional campaigns and create more ways for tourists — and homesick kababayans — to land in the Philippines with ease.

“It’s not just about bringing new visitors to our shores,” Frasco said. “It’s also about making it easier for Filipinos abroad to come home and rediscover the beauty of their country.”

Under the deal, DOT and Emirates will co-promote each other’s programmes across multiple media platforms, maximising their global reach.

Orhan Abbas, Senior Vice President for Emirates Airlines Commercial Operations in the Far East, added that travellers can also expect more flights and expanded routes — a move made even sweeter as Emirates celebrates nearly 35 years of flying to the Philippines.

35 years of partnership

The enduring partnership shows the resilience of the Philippines as a destination — not only by leisure travellers but also by business jetsetters and entrepreneurs.

“Emirates began serving the Philippines nearly 35 years ago, making it one of the longest-served destinations across our entire global network,” Abbas said. 

“Our continued partnership reflects the strength and popularity of this Southeast Asian destination,” he added.

Timing

The timing couldn’t be better: As of April 25, over 21,000 travellers from the UAE have already touched down in the Philippines this year. 

Since reopening its borders post-pandemic in 2022, the country has seen a strong comeback in tourist arrivals — and a solid bounce-back in tourism revenues from UAE visitors.

With an eye on the future, and backed by nearly 4 decades of partnership, this deal is ready to turn the Philippines into an even bigger must-visit destination.