MANILA—At the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on the proposed 2026 national budget, a senator has called for stronger national investments in the tourism sector, stressing that the Philippines is falling behind its Southeast Asian neighbors.

“Ang gaganda ng offers papuntang Vietnam. Halimbawa, makakakuha ka ng package like three nights or four nights plus round-trip airfare for the equivalent of 18,000 pesos. Eh tayo, yung airfare papuntang Siargao is already 18,000 pesos… hindi talaga tayo competitive kapag dating sa tourism,” Sen. Mark Villar said.

The senator noted that airfare for top international tourist destinations such as Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand remains cheaper than flights to local tourist spots. To address this, he filed Senate Resolution No. 53 seeking an inquiry into the “unreasonable” costs of domestic flights and the implementation of Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) regulations.

He also acknowledged that the country faces technical challenges, such as runway capacity and airport infrastructure, which contribute to higher costs.

“I understand there are some technical reasons, tulad ng airport at yung haba ng runway. So it’s really a comprehensive solution. Sana, maganda rin na mag-invest tayo sa tourism infrastructure because it creates [more] jobs… and in other countries in Asia, it is a big source of income,” Villar added.

Expressing full support for bigger tourism investments, he said: “I think para sa government, sulit po ang investment natin sa infrastructure projects related to tourism. I hope that’s given consideration in the budget.”

Villar emphasized that boosting tourism funding in the 2026 national budget could attract more foreign visitors, generate jobs, and contribute significantly to the country’s economic growth.