Turkey to Enhance Tourism Collaboration with the Philippines by Introducing New Flights

Published on August 25, 2024

Turkey targets the Philippine market to boost its tourism sector, focusing on expanding flight routes and strengthening economic ties between the two nations.

Turkey has identified the Philippine market as a key player in its growing tourism industry, with Turkish Ambassador Niyazi Evren Akyol stressing the potential benefits of expanding flight routes between the two nations. In a recent meeting with Department of Finance (DoF) Secretary Ralph Recto, Ambassador Akyol discussed strategies to strengthen bilateral trade and investments, placing a significant emphasis on the introduction of additional flight routes. This move is aimed at enhancing economic ties and boosting tourism between Turkey and the Philippines.

According to the Department of Tourism, Turkish tourist arrivals in the Philippines have surged by 36 percent, reaching 5,777 visitors in the first seven months of this year, compared to the same period in 2023. Despite this increase, Turkish visitors represented just 0.22 percent of the total foreign tourist arrivals in the Philippines, a smaller share when compared to neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia, which accounted for 0.35 percent and 0.43 percent, respectively.

The United Nations Tourism agency has noted that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has generally led Asian travelers to seek destinations outside these regions, as this demographic tends to prioritize safety. While Turkey is primarily located in West Asia, with a small portion extending into Southeast Europe, its presence in the Philippine tourism market remains modest.