Philippines to reopen to foreign tourists from December 1

The Philippines will reopen its borders to tourists from some countries on a trial basis from December 1, as part of efforts to rebuild an economy hit hard by the pandemic, its Government said on November 26.

On Boracay island, the Philippines (Photo: Reuters)
On Boracay island, the Philippines (Photo: Reuters)

Karlo Nograles, acting presidential spokesperson, said foreigners vaccinated against COVID-19 from countries designated low risk will be allowed for entry over an initial 15-day period, or considered for extension then.

The Philippines, popular for its white sand beaches and rich marine life, shut its doors to foreign tourists at the onset of the pandemic in early 2020.
Its tourism arrivals from top markets such as Japan, the Republic of Korea and China slumped by 83 percent to 1.4 million last year.