In its effort to improve the country’s foreign tourist arrivals, the Department of Tourism led in welcoming tourists from New Delhi, India, following the kick-off of direct flights of Air India from the Indian capital to Manila this month.

On 1 October, Air India launched its inaugural non-stop service between Manila and New Delhi — a milestone hailed by the Marcos Administration as a boost to tourism and bilateral relations.

Vital connection restored

According to Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, India stands among the fastest-growing outbound travel markets in the world, and with the inaugural Air India flight, a vital connection that has been absent for over a decade has been restored.

“This renewed link opens our doors to warmly welcome more Indian visitors to our shores, while deepening cultural exchanges and strengthening people-to-people ties. It is a milestone that echoes the Marcos administration’s vision of connectivity and tourism as powerful engines of sustainable growth and nation-building,” she added.

The inaugural flight carried 143 passengers from Delhi, greeted at Gate 2 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 by the DoT through its Route Development Unit and DoT-Metro Manila.

Air India will operate the Manila–Delhi route five times weekly — daily except Tuesdays and Thursdays — using an Airbus A321, with a flight time of six hours and 50 minutes.

Reciprocal visa liberalization

The relaunch follows reciprocal visa liberalization measures between the two countries.

Starting 8 June, the Philippines granted 14-day visa-free entry to Indian tourists, while the Indian government announced free e-visas for Filipino travelers during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s State Visit last August.

The DoT said India’s outbound tourism market is rising rapidly, with over 30 million Indian travelers recorded in 2024 and projections ranking the country as the world’s fifth-largest source market by 2027.

India is currently the 12th top source market for the Philippines, with 66,544 arrivals as of 1 October.

Comprehensive promotion strategy

To capture a greater share of this demand, the DoT, through its marketing promotions arm, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, is set to roll out a comprehensive promotion strategy consisting of familiarization trips for media and travel trade, and a joint digital marketing campaign with Air India in the fourth quarter of 2025, among others.

“As we welcome this inaugural flight, we reaffirm our commitment to position the Philippines as a destination of choice for Indian travelers, from leisure and cultural journeys to wellness and business events. With closer collaboration between Air India, the DoT, and our partners, this renewed connectivity will serve as a bridge to greater opportunities and stronger ties between our nations, as we continue to invite more visitors to experience and Love the Philippines,” Secretary Frasco added.