𝗣𝗛 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻

The Philippines has been named the world’s top retirement destination for 2026, following a record-breaking year for tourism that saw domestic tourism spending reach P3.26 trillion and tourism employment rise to 7.7 million.

But as thousands of foreign retirees continue to arrive and settle in the country, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is accelerating efforts to modernize the country’s border systems—ensuring that the Philippines remains both secure and welcoming to legitimate travelers.

𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The Philippines ranked first among 20 countries in the Expatriate Group’s Retirement Abroad Index 2026, scoring 78 out of 100. It surpassed Thailand, which ranked second, and Colombia, which placed third.

The index evaluated countries based on five key factors: healthcare quality, visa accessibility, health insurance requirements, cost of living, and expat community and integration.

The Philippines performed particularly well in affordability and visa accessibility.

Data showed that a retired couple can live comfortably on around £750 to £1,000 per month, or approximately $998 to $1,330.
The country’s strong private healthcare sector and established expat communities in Manila, Cebu, and popular island destinations also make it easier for retirees to settle in.

𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆

As of June 2026, 86,292 foreign retirees from more than 150 countries have made the Philippines their second home.

Around 62,000 active Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) holders are currently in the country, while the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) is targeting 4,700 new applicants in 2026.

PRA President Roberto Zozobrado said foreign retirees contribute significantly to the retail, hospitality, and tourism sectors.

Once retirees settle in their chosen destinations, he said, many of them also travel to different parts of the country.

Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay described the Philippines’ top ranking as an affirmation of the country’s progress in creating a more welcoming, accessible, and enjoyable experience for travelers and retirees.

𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀

Latest Philippine Statistics Authority data showed that domestic tourism expenditure increased by 3% in 2025, rising from P3.16 trillion in 2024 to P3.26 trillion.

Inbound tourism spending, however, declined by 6.4% to P698.46 billion, from P745.99 billion in 2024.

Despite the decline in foreign tourism receipts, foreign visitor arrivals continued to grow—from 5.44 million in 2024 to 5.87 million based on eTravel data, or 5.94 million according to Bureau of Immigration records, in 2025.

The figures show that the domestic market remains the larger and more resilient economic base of Philippine tourism.

Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA) slightly declined by 1.4% to P2.27 trillion, while tourism employment increased by 2.5% to 7.70 million.

𝗖𝗔𝗜𝗦𝗦: 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆’𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀

As tourist arrivals and the foreign retiree population continue to grow, the need for a secure, efficient, and modern border management system is becoming increasingly important.

The Civil Aviation and Immigration Security Services (CAISS) proposed project—a P10.74-billion Public-Private Partnership (PPP)—aims to modernize border control across 11 international airports, one major seaport, and six mobile border crossing stations.

The project is designed to comply with standards of the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It is an unsolicited proposal submitted by Securiport LLC in May 2023.

The proposed system would deploy a comprehensive integrated platform combining Advanced Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record data exchange, AI-driven risk assessment tools, and biometric border control technologies, including e-gates, biometric enrollment and verification, and screening workflows.

Crucially, the project follows a “no-cost-to-government” model. Under the proposal, the private partner would finance, design, build, and maintain the platform, recovering its investment through a minimal $4 user fee per international traveler, which would be incorporated into airline ticket costs.

After the 20-year concession period, all project assets would be transferred to the Philippine government.

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲

The BI has repeatedly emphasized the need to modernize the country’s border management infrastructure to strengthen its ability to combat transnational crime, human trafficking, terrorism, and other emerging security threats.

The CAISS project covers major international gateways, including Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Clark, Davao, Mactan-Cebu, Boracay (Caticlan), Iloilo, Kalibo, Laoag, Bohol-Panglao, Puerto Princesa, and Zamboanga.

By aligning the country’s border systems with international standards observed by other countries and ASEAN neighbors, the project aims to improve regional interoperability, information sharing, and cooperation.

With foreign arrivals nearing six million, tourism employing more than 7.7 million Filipinos, and the Philippines now recognized as the world’s No. 1 retirement destination, the need for stronger border infrastructure has become more urgent.

Foreign retirees from China, South Korea, the United States, and other countries are increasingly choosing the Philippines as their home, adding another dimension to the country’s growing international mobility.

The CAISS project therefore represents a critical investment in infrastructure that can keep the country’s borders secure, efficient, and ready for the next wave of arrivals.

As the BI pushes forward with innovations to its existing Advance Passenger Information System, which was launched in March 2025, the goal is clear: streamlined security that supports, rather than hinders, the continued growth of Philippine tourism.