ADDITIONAL flights between Riyadh and several Philippine destinations are seen boosting the tourist arrivals from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In a news statement, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said, ‘Our shared values of hospitality, family, and faith make the Philippines a natural destination of choice for Saudi travelers. The Philippines expects further increases with the launch of new routes in 2025, including Riyadh-Cagayan de Oro and Riyadh-Zamboanga, complementing existing Riyadh-Manila and Jeddah-Manila connections [of Saudia Airlines].’
She added, ‘With enhanced air connectivity, we aim to bring the beauty and warmth of our islands even closer to the Saudi people.’
The Riyadh to Cagayan de Oro/Zamboanga routes are actually connections from Manila. Saudia’s code-share agreement with Philippine Airlines allows the former to offer Riyadh-Cagayan de Oro and Riyadh-Zamboanga flights. Saudia flies 11 times a week on the Riyadh- and Jeddah-Manila routes.
Tourism Undersecretary Verna C. Buensuceso, representing Frasco, recently met with Saudia Airlines General Manager Abdulrahman Alabdulwahab and Riyadh Air Vice President for Network Planning and Partnerships Wolfgang Reuss on the sidelines of the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh. They discussed the expansion of air connectivity and the development of joint tourism promotion initiatives. Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Raymond R. Balatbat also attended the meetings.
‘As a destination, the Philippines continues to gain ground among Saudi travelers, recognized for its warm hospitality, competitive value, English-speaking service culture, and growing Halal-friendly tourism infrastructure. Saudi nationals enjoy visa-free entry to the Philippines for up to 30 days, making travel easier and more accessible,’ said Frasco.
The Middle East continues to outperform other regions in international travel, in terms of destinations and as a source market for tourists. For Saudi Arabia, specifically, its outbound tourism is projected to reach US$25.49 billion by 2027, from $10.86 billion in 2021. ‘Saudi Arabia represents not just another emerging market, but a fundamental shift in high-yield tourism,’ said travel consultant Dr. Jens Thraenhart in the Balanced Tourism website.
Saudi travelers stay up to an average of 19 nights in a destination, spending significantly above global averages. Outbound travel is driven by young professionals, with solo travelers now accounting for 78.82 percent of bookings, added Thraenhart, who also recently consulted for Saudi Tourism Authority.
Data from the DOT showed visitor arrivals from Saudi Arabia slipped by 3.25 percent to 18,237 in the 10 months to October 2025 versus the same period last year. The agency said among top destinations outside of Metro Manila by Saudi tourists were: Cebu (23.29 percent of total), Aklan/Boracay (21.92 percent), Pampanga (15.07 percent), Palawan (8.22 percent), and Cavite (1.37 percent), ‘reflecting a strong preference for premium, family-friendly beach and resort experiences.’
Saudi travelers spent US$37.86 million last year, up 46 percent from 2023, according to the DOT chief, ‘confirming Saudi Arabia’s position as one of the Philippines’s fastest-growing and highest-value markets.’
Overall, there were 70,950 visitors from the Gulf of Cooperation Council countries from January to October 2025, a 9.33 percent drop from the same period last year.
The DOT has undertaken Muslim-friendly and Halal tourism initiatives to enhance the visit of tourists from the Middle East and other other Muslim-majority countries. As per the agency’s list, there are now 14 halal kitchens among its accredited accommodation establishments, while there are 289 Muslim-friendly restaurants across the country.
Megaworld Hotels and Resorts Corp. has also opened a Muslim-friendly beach Marhaba Boracay, a first in the Philippines. Likewise, Halal-certified meals are available from Philippines AirAsia on all its routes.
In this year’s Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) of Mastercard and CrescentRating, the Philippines climbed to eighth place, from 12th in 2024, in the list of top 20 non-OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) halal-friendly destinations.