Philippines Travel Boom Accelerates As Riyadh Air Manila Route, Vietjet Connectivity And New Rewards Transform Tourism In 2026

Written By: Susmita Das

Susmita Das

I am a content writer with over six years of experience in creating engaging, well-researched, and SEO-driven content. At Travel and Tour World, I cover global travel, tourism, aviation, hospitality, and destination news, transforming complex industry developments into clear, informative, and reader-friendly stories. I have a strong understanding of SEO best practices, including keyword research, on-page optimization, content structuring, and search intent, allowing me to create content that is both valuable to readers and optimized for search engines. Passionate about research and storytelling, I am committed to delivering accurate, insightful, and impactful content that keeps readers informed about the ever-evolving travel industry.

See Full Bio

September 13, 2026 12:59 GMT+5:30

The Philippines travel industry expands in 2026 with new air routes, such as Riyadh Air’s Manila to Riyadh route, Vietjet’s Clark to Ho Chi Minh City route, AirAsia’s expansion of its digital travel ecosystem, and global recognition for Philippine hospitality. These new services will create better connectivity between the Philippines, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and will attract more tourism, business travel, Filipinos living abroad, and improve the quality of hospitality. Riyadh air starts operations on September 9, 2026 between Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, an important first step in building air links between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia.

The new travel industry connectivity in the Philippines includes more air routes, better booking technologies, and better international hotel choices. From direct flights to major international destinations to loyalty programs designed for easier flight access, the country’s travel industry is evolving rapidly.

The latest travel industry developments show how the Philippines is becoming increasingly connected through new air corridors, smarter booking technology and stronger international hotel positioning. From direct flights connecting major global markets to loyalty programmes offering easier flight access, the country’s travel sector is experiencing rapid transformation.

The key developments include:

Riyadh Air Manila Route Creates A New Philippines Saudi Arabia Travel Bridge

Riyadh Air’s arrival in Manila represents one of the most important airline developments connecting the Philippines with Saudi Arabia in 2026. The new route directly links Manila and Riyadh, creating a stronger aviation bridge between two countries with deep economic, cultural and travel connections.

The service began on September 9, 2026, with Riyadh Air operating Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft between Ninoy Aquino International Airport and King Khalid International Airport. The aircraft features a 290-seat configuration across four cabin categories:

• Business Elite
• Business Class
• Premium Economy
• Economy Class

The airline initially operates four weekly round-trip flights before increasing the service to daily operations from October 19, 2026. The Manila route is Riyadh Air’s 15th international destination and represents the airline’s continued expansion into Asia. For Philippine travellers, the connection creates new opportunities beyond traditional Gulf transit hubs. Passengers travelling from Manila can use Riyadh as an alternative gateway for onward journeys to Europe, the Middle East and other international destinations.

The route also has strong importance for the overseas Filipino community. Saudi Arabia remains one of the largest destinations for Filipino workers abroad, and the new direct service improves convenience for workers, families and visitors travelling between both countries. The launch also supports wider tourism growth between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines. Increased air capacity can encourage more leisure travel, business exchanges and cultural connections.

Saudi travellers visiting the Philippines can benefit from improved access to popular destinations such as Manila, Cebu, Palawan and other island tourism locations. The new route strengthens the Philippines’ position within Asia’s growing aviation network while supporting Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a major international aviation and tourism hub.

Vietjet Opens Clark Gateway With Direct Vietnam Connectivity For Northern Philippines Travellers

The Philippines aviation market is also expanding beyond Manila as airlines increasingly use regional airports to create new international connections. Vietjet will launch direct flights between Clark International Airport and Ho Chi Minh City beginning November 10, 2026.

The new route will operate three times weekly:

• Tuesday
• Thursday
• Saturday

The scheduled service will connect Clark with Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

The operating schedule includes:

The airline will introduce promotional Eco fares starting from US$75 one way, including taxes and fees, for travel until March 31, 2027, excluding selected peak travel periods. The Clark service represents a major opportunity for travellers from Central and Northern Luzon.

Passengers from areas including Pampanga, Tarlac, Baguio and Pangasinan will gain direct international access without travelling through Metro Manila. This reduces travel time and provides a more convenient alternative for passengers affected by traffic congestion around Manila. The route also expands tourism links between the Philippines and Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City serves as an important gateway for travellers continuing to other Vietnamese destinations including:

• Da Nang
• Nha Trang
• Phu Quoc

The new connection strengthens Southeast Asian regional tourism by making short-haul international travel easier and more accessible.

AirAsia Rewards Changes Flight Booking With New Points Redemption System

AirAsia is strengthening its position in the digital travel market through the launch of its new Points Booking feature. The programme allows AirAsia Rewards members to redeem points directly for flights, creating more flexibility for travellers who regularly use loyalty benefits. The new system introduces dedicated reward seat allocations available at least 30 days before departure. This provides travellers with greater certainty when planning trips using accumulated points.

Key features include:

• Flight redemption starting from 500 points
• Full payment using points on selected flights
• Combination of points and credit card payment
• Dedicated loyalty seat availability
• Promotional 50% pointsback offer

The 50% pointsback promotion applies to eligible flight redemptions confirmed until September 30, 2026. Travellers can also use points for selected domestic and regional routes.

Examples include:

The development reflects a wider shift in travel behaviour as passengers increasingly expect flexible loyalty programmes that provide immediate value. For Philippine travellers, the new system makes flight rewards easier to access and increases the usefulness of accumulated points.

AirAsia MOVE Gains IATA Accreditation And Expands International Flight Access

AirAsia MOVE has achieved a significant milestone after receiving International Air Transport Association accreditation in the Philippines. The accreditation strengthens the platform’s role as a recognised travel marketplace and allows it to expand direct ticketing relationships with airlines. Within the first weeks following accreditation, around 30 international airlines granted direct ticketing authority to AirAsia MOVE. This expansion allows travellers to access a wider selection of airlines through the platform.

AirAsia MOVE is no longer focused only on low-cost airline bookings. Its expanding ecosystem includes access to full-service carriers, international destinations and broader travel services. The platform connects travellers with more than 700 airline partners and thousands of destinations globally. The move highlights the growing importance of digital travel platforms in Southeast Asia.

As travellers increasingly search, compare and purchase travel products online, platforms with stronger airline partnerships are becoming essential parts of the travel ecosystem.

Philippine Hospitality Industry Gains Momentum Through Luxury Upgrades And Global Recognition

Air connectivity is only one part of the Philippines’ tourism growth story. The hospitality sector is also strengthening its position through property upgrades, international nominations and premium guest experiences.

Sheraton Manila Bay Enhances Luxury Business Travel Experience

Sheraton Manila Bay has refreshed its Sheraton Club lounge, improving facilities for Marriott Bonvoy Elite members.

The upgraded lounge operates from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and provides:

• Dedicated workspace
• Meeting areas
• Light meals
• Pastries
• Beverage services

The improvement reflects increasing demand for hotels that combine leisure comfort with business-friendly facilities. As Manila continues to attract corporate travellers, events and international visitors, premium hotel services are becoming increasingly important.

Discovery Samal Brings Philippine Island Tourism Into Global Spotlight

Discovery Samal, located on Samal Island in Davao del Norte, has been nominated for Best Resort in the Philippines at the DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards 2027. The nomination highlights the growing international appeal of Philippine island destinations. Samal Island is known for its beaches, marine environment and natural attractions.

Recognition from international travel awards can help increase awareness among global luxury travellers seeking destinations beyond traditional tourism centres. Voting remains open until October 20, 2026. The nomination supports wider efforts to promote regional tourism development across the Philippines.

Wynn Palace Macao Ranking Highlights Asia’s Growing Luxury Hospitality Competition

Asia’s luxury hospitality sector received another major recognition as Wynn Palace in Cotai, Macao, entered The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026 extended ranking. The property ranked No. 96 on the list covering hotels positioned from 51 to 100. The achievement marks the first time a Macao hotel has secured a position on the prestigious ranking.

The ranking is evaluated by an international academy consisting of more than 800 luxury travel specialists, including writers, hoteliers and industry experts. The recognition demonstrates the continued growth of premium tourism across Asia and highlights increasing competition among luxury destinations.

Philippines Travel Future Strengthens Through Global Connectivity And Tourism Innovation

A recent boom of new aviation, digital travel, and hospitality services in the Philippines is rapidly changing the country’s travel options. Riyadh Air’s new services in Manila will improve access in the region. Vietjet’s services in Clark will further improve regional access. AirAsia’s new services will improve how customers find and purchase tickets.

Top-tier travelers are drawn to the country thanks to new hotels and awards. There are already new services to improve travel and accessible better hotels, giving the Philippines improved services to compete on an international level. New air routes and travel services combined with the improvement of the country’s hotels will change the international travel and tourism markets for the better.