Border upgrades pushed as influx of foreign retirees boost Philippine tourism
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has been named the world's top retirement destination for 2026, capping a record-breaking year for tourism that saw domestic spending hit P3.26 trillion and employment in the sector climb to 7.7 million.
But as thousands of foreign retirees flock to its shores each year, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is racing to modernize the country's border systems — ensuring the gates remain as secure as they are welcoming.
The Philippines ranked first out of 20 countries in the Expatriate Group's Retirement Abroad Index 2026, scoring 78 out of 100. It surpassed Thailand (second), Colombia (third), and other popular retirement havens.
The index evaluated countries across five 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 shows that a retired couple can live comfortably on around £750 to £1,000 per month — roughly $998 to $1,330. The country's strong private healthcare sector and well-established expat communities across Manila, Cebu and popular island destinations make the transition seamless.
As of June 2026, 86,292 foreign retirees from over 150 countries have made the Philippines their second home. Active Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) holders number about 62,000, and the Philippine Retirement Authority is targeting 4,700 new applicants in 2026.
"Foreign retirees contribute to retail, hospitality, and tourism. The moment they settle in their chosen location, they travel all over the country," PRA President Roberto Zozobrado was quoted as saying.
Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay called the ranking "an affirmation of the progress we are making in creating a more welcoming, accessible, and enjoyable experience for travelers and retirees alike."
Latest official data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed domestic tourism expenditure rose three percent to P3.26 trillion in 2025, up from P3.16 trillion the previous year. Inbound spending, however, declined 6.4 percent to P698.46 billion from P745.99 billion in 2024.
Despite the drop in foreign exchange earnings, foreign visitor arrivals still increased — from 5.44 million in 2024 to 5.87 million (eTravel portal) or 5.94 million (BI records) in 2025. The data confirms that the domestic market remains the larger and more resilient economic base of Philippine tourism.
Tourism direct gross value added (TDGVA) edged down 1.4 percent to P2.27 trillion, while tourism employment grew 2.5 percent to 7.70 million.
As tourist traffic rises and the retiree population grows, so does the need for secure, efficient border management. 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 United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization-compliant project is an unsolicited proposal by Securiport LLC, submitted in May 2023, that deploys a unique, patented, and comprehensive solution — Advanced Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record data exchange, AI-driven risk assessment tools, and biometric border control elements (e-gates, enrollment/verification, and screening workflows) under a single integrated platform.
Crucially, the project follows a "no-cost-to-government" model: the private partner finances, designs, builds, and maintains the platform, recovering investment through a minimal $4 user fee per international traveler built into airline ticket costs. After a 20-year concession period, all assets will be transferred to the government.
The BI has repeatedly said it recognizes the importance of modernizing the country’s border management infrastructure to better combat transnational crimes, human trafficking, terrorism, and other emerging security threats.
The CAISS project covers all 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 with international standards observed by other countries and ASEAN neighbors,) the system aims to enhance regional interoperability and cooperation.
With foreign arrivals nearing six million, the industry employing over 7.7 million Filipinos, and the Philippines basking in its new title as the world's #1 retirement destination — with retirees from China, South Korea, the United States, and beyond choosing it as their home — the CAISS project represents a critical investment in the infrastructure that will keep those gates secure, efficient, and ready for the next wave of arrivals.
As the BI pushes forward with innovations to its existing Advance Passenger Information System launched in March 2025, the goal is clear — streamlined security that supports, rather than hinders, the continued growth of Philippine tourism.
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