Philippines Tourism USA

What Philippines Tourism USA does

Philippines Tourism USA is the North American digital and field presence of the Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT), a government agency of the Republic of the Philippines. The entity operates three regional offices—in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco—with headcount between 11 and 50 employees, and runs the official consumer website philippinetourismusa.com plus social channels under the "Love the Philippines" brand. Its function is tourism promotion rather than travel sales: it markets the Philippines as a destination to North American travelers and trade partners, curates destination content (Banaue, Bohol, Boracay, Cebu, Davao, Manila, Palawan, Siargao, Vigan), publishes travel advisories, runs the "Save Our Spots" responsible-tourism initiative, and coordinates roadshows, familiarization (FAM) trips, and trade events such as ITB Berlin and ATF.

The core product offerings include the Philippine Travel App (destination information), the Hop-on Hop-off Mobile App (Metro Manila transport with real-time GPS and cashless passes at PHP 1,299-2,698), the Philippine Specialist Program (travel-advisor training and certification), and curated tour programs (Very Important Pinoy ambassador tours at $1,110-$1,760, Filgrimage religious tours, WWII heritage tours). Distribution is multi-tiered: the DOT accredits 13,000+ tourism establishments, partners with major North American travel consortia (Virtuoso, Signature Travel Network, USTOA), works with tour operators (Avanti, Goway, Rajah, Abercrombie & Kent, Ker & Downey, Pacific Delight, Mango Tours, G-Adventures, HanaTour, Uniglobe), and collaborates with airlines (Philippine Airlines including the new Seattle-Manila route, EVA Air).

The business model is government appropriations-based rather than commercial: DOT does not sell travel products directly, and tour packages are fulfilled by partner operators at their own price points. Revenue derives from the Philippine national budget allocated to tourism promotion, augmented by small direct receipts from the Hop-on Hop-off pass sales. Leadership transitioned in April 2026 with the appointment of Ma. Bernardita "Dita" Angara-Mathay as Tourism Secretary. The organization earned the WTTC SafeTravels Stamp (2020) and has received repeated World Travel Awards recognition as a leading diving destination.

Name

Philippines Tourism USA

Legal name

Philippines Department of Tourism

Website

https://philippinetourismusa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Philippines Tourism USA is the North American field and digital presence of the Philippine Department of Tourism, promoting the Philippines as a travel destination through DOT offices in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, and serving US and Canadian travelers, travel advisors, and tour-operator partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Destination Marketing & Tourism Promotion

NAICS

Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Tours, Activities & Experiences Booking Platforms (BPAMAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Domestic/In-Country Multi-Day Tour Operators (THAKADAL), Sustainable Supply Chain & Procurement Platforms (Local Sourcing, Ethical Purchasing) (THAAANAJ)

Keywords

• Destination marketing services
• Travel trade promotions
• Tourism information services
• Travel industry partnerships
• Destination branding

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tourism Promotion Services: Government-funded tourism promotion body that markets the Philippines as a premier travel destination to North American markets. Operates through DOT offices in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Philippines Tourism USA is the North American marketing arm of the Philippines Department of Tourism. It promotes the Philippines as a travel destination through destination content, travel advisories, mobile applications (Philippines Travel App, Hop-on Hop-off Metro Manila app), tour programs (Very Important Pinoy Tour, Filgrimage Tour), the Philippine Specialist training/certification program, and trade partnerships with tour operators, airlines, and luxury consortia. It does not sell travel packages directly; bookings occur through partner operators and DOT-accredited establishments.

Product overview

Philippines Tourism USA operates as the North American marketing arm of the Philippine Department of Tourism, promoting the Philippines as a premier travel destination. The core offering is a portfolio of tourism promotion services rather than a unified software product. Key products include the Philippine Hop-On Hop-Off mobile app for Metro Manila exploration and the Philippine Travel App for destination information. The organization facilitates tour packages through partners including Avanti Destinations and Goway Travel, offers specialized programs like the Very Important Pinoy ambassador tours and Filgrimage religious tours, and runs promotional campaigns including Save Our Spots (responsible tourism) and Travel From Home (virtual backgrounds). Additional offerings encompass travel advisories, destination fact sheets, sample itineraries, training certification through the Philippine Specialist Program, and contest programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Love the Philippines: Current national tourism branding campaign of the Philippines
• Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour
• Philippine Specialist Program
• Hop-on Hop-off Manila
• Save Our Spots
• Filgrimage Tour
• Travel From Home
• Bisita Be My Guest (BBMG)

Products and services

• Philippine Hop-On Hop-Off (HOHO) Mobile Tour Program A DOT-NCR-launched dynamic tour program with a mobile transport app and designated Metro Manila hubs (Makati Business Hub, Manila Culture Hub, Pasay-Paranaque Entertainment Hub) that provides flexible do-it-yourself sightseeing using real-time GPS-tracked buses and cashless transactions. Passes are sold in 1-, 2-, and 3-day tiers aimed at visitors wanting to explore Metro Manila attractions on their own schedule.
• Philippine Travel App Official DOT mobile application providing travel planning content and destination information for the Philippines; available for download to help visitors research and plan trips.
• Philippine Specialist Program Training and certification program that educates and accredits travel professionals on Philippine destinations and tourism offerings so they can confidently sell Philippines trips.
• Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour Curated ambassadors' tour program operated by the DOT and partner Rajah Tours that brings the Filipino diaspora to the Philippines on multi-day heritage itineraries covering Metropolitan Manila, Clark, Bataan, and El Nido in Palawan. Package rates range from US$1,110 to US$1,760 depending on accommodation tier and occupancy.
• Filgrimage Tour Religious pilgrimage tourism program featuring destinations including Siargao, Negros, Camarines Sur, and Bohol, offering experiences of time-honored Filipino traditions dating back to pre-Spanish era and Christianisation.
• Philippine Travel Advisory Services Official DOT travel advisories and public announcements providing safety alerts, weather warnings, earthquake and emergency information to travelers, reachable through the Tourist Assistance Call Center (151-TOUR / 151-8687).
• Travel From Home Virtual Backgrounds Free downloadable Philippine landscape virtual backgrounds for video conferencing platforms (Zoom, Webex) released during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep the destination visible to remote audiences.
• Hop-on Hop-off Manila (HOHO) Pass Tiers Three paid pass tiers for the HOHO Metro Manila tour program: 1-day (P1299), 2-day (P1999), and 3-day (P2698) priced in Philippine Pesos, providing flexible bus-based sightseeing access across Makati, Manila, and Pasay-Paranaque hubs.

Quantifiable outcome

• DOT assisted 19,898 foreign tourists and 1,456 domestic tourists during COVID-19 crisis
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, standard and minor.

• VirtuosocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLargest and most influential luxury travel consortium in North America with 8,900 travel advisors, 375 member travel companies, and 1.5 million affluent clients. Partnership aims to position Philippines as next luxury destination in Asia.
• Signature Travel NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading travel consortium with 6,000 preferred travel consultants and 200 member travel companies. PDOT partners for joint marketing activities.
• United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssociation with 125 active tour operator members and 700 travel professionals. Partnership provides access to tour operator distribution for Philippines packages.
• Avanti DestinationsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTour operator specializing in Philippines packages including Philippine Escapes (Manila & El Nido 8D/7N), Fantastic Philippines (10D/9N), Secrets of Siargao (5D/4N), and Bohol Retreat (4D/3N).
• Goway TravelmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTour operator offering tailor-made Philippines vacations including Essential Philippines, Island Hopper, Deluxe Philippines, and Active Philippines packages.
• Rajah Tours PhilippinesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPhilippine-based tour operator and organizer of Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Ambassadors' Tour. Provides ground operations for familiarization trips and VIP tours.
• Abercrombie & KentmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLuxury tour operator partner working with DOT to push Philippines to exclusive high-end clients through joint activities.
• Ker & DowneymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLuxury tour operator partner collaborating with DOT and Tourism Promotions Board for high-end client marketing.
• Philippine AirlinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational flag carrier with partnership for new Seattle-Manila inaugural route and ongoing flight operations supporting tourism access to Philippines.
• Mango ToursstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPhilippines tour operator offering packages and content creator tours to showcase destinations.
• EVA AirstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTaiwan-based airline partner providing flights to Philippines, evidenced by ticket prizes for Silk Holidays promotion winners.
• Silk HolidaysstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTour operator that conducted Fun in the Philippines and Taiwan road shows with travel trade engagement events.
• Beautiful DestinationsstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel content production partner for tourism marketing materials and destination promotion.
• G-AdventuresstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdventure travel operator partner offering Philippines tour packages.
• HanaTourstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational tour operator offering Philippines travel packages.
• Uniglobe TravelstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal travel franchise network with member agencies booking Philippines travel.
• CaradonnastandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDive travel specialist partner for Philippines diving destination promotion.
• Pacific Delight ToursstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTour operator offering Philippines vacation packages.
• Majestic VacationsstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTour operator offering Philippines travel packages from historic walled cities to white sand beaches.
• Island DestinationsstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLuxury villa and island resort specialist promoting Philippines destinations.
• Isram WorldstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTour operator offering Philippines travel packages.
• Travel International GroupstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTour operator offering Philippines travel packages.
• PADImajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal diving certification agency - key partner for promoting Philippines as world-class diving destination with recognized certification programs.
• Filipino Food MovementstandardGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity organization (founded 2014) promoting Filipino cuisine and supporting Filipino restaurants through campaigns like Support Filipino Takeout and Kulinarya LIVE!
• Electric EntertainmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduction company behind 'Almost Paradise' - first American TV series filmed entirely in Philippines, airing on WGN America, featuring Filipino cast and crew.
• Lonely PlanetstandardGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured content partner for Philippines diving destination coverage in national parks article.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Tourism New Zealand: Government-backed DMO for New Zealand with North American trade engagement; comparable for its government mandate, trade training programs, and FAM trip-driven demand generation model.
• Korea Tourism Organization (KTO): National tourism organization promoting South Korea to international markets including North America; highly comparable as a government DMO with similar trade engagement, KOL/influencer programs, and consumer digital platforms.
• Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT): Thai national tourism office with active North America promotion; comparable regional competitor pursuing the same US leisure and diving/beach traveler segments that the Philippines targets.
• Indonesia Tourism (Wonderful Indonesia): National tourism brand of Indonesia promoting archipelago destinations; directly comparable as a Southeast Asian island-destination DMO competing for diving, beach, and adventure travelers from North America.
• Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO): Government tourism promotion body for Japan with dedicated North America operations; directly comparable as a national DMO running FAM trips, travel agent training, and trade show participation to capture US outbound travelers.
• Tourism Australia: National tourism organization for Australia operating in North America to drive inbound leisure travel; comparable as a government-backed destination marketing body running multi-channel campaigns, trade partnerships, and travel trade training programs targeting the same US/Canadian source market.
• Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board: National DMO for Malaysia operating globally including North America; directly comparable Southeast Asian competitor running similar dive, beach, and cultural tourism campaigns targeting the same source markets.
• Singapore Tourism Board: Government agency promoting Singapore as a destination globally; directly comparable as an Asian national DMO competing for the same North American MICE and leisure traveler segments.

Regional players

• Taiwan Tourism Administration: National tourism body for Taiwan, geographically and culturally proximate to the Philippines with overlapping US/Canada target segments; comparable as an Asia-Pacific DMO using trade partnerships and cultural/heritage positioning.

Direct peers

• Avanti Destinations: Tour operator partner of Philippines Tourism USA offering Philippines packages (Philippine Escapes, Bohol Retreat, Secrets of Siargao); comparable as a wholesale tour operator channel that distributes Philippines inventory to North American travel agents.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PHTourismUSA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@LoveThePhilippines
• Facebookfacebook.com/philippinetourismusa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/philippinetourismusa
• Instagraminstagram.com/LoveThePhilippines

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Philippines Tourism USA