Cruise ship passenger arrivals in the country in the first two months of the year surpassed the 100,000-mark, keeping the Philippines on track to meet its target for 2025, according to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
The PPA, citing data from the Department of Tourism, reported that the number of cruise calls reached 20 in January and 22 in February, with passengers totalling 52,043 in January and 58,259 in February.
The PPA did not provide comparative figures but in 2024, the agency recorded a 7-percent increase in cruise ship passenger arrivals, reaching 142,574 passengers, significantly higher than the 88,080 passengers recorded in 2023.
For this year, the PPA projects a 30-percent increase in cruise ship passengers, expecting the total to reach 185,000, up from 142,574 passengers in 2024.
To support the growing cruise tourism industry, the PPA said it continues to invest in new and upgraded port infrastructure.
This includes the construction of dedicated cruise terminals in Coron, Aklan and Camiguin, as well as a cruise ship port in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro.
Last year, the PPA also completed the Jubang Port Cruise Ship Terminal in Dapa, Surigao del Norte.
In terms of cargo traffic, the PPA reported a 6-percent increase to 290 million metric tons (MMT) in 2024, up from 272.5 million MMT in 2023, driven by steady growth in foreign cargo.
“The PPA remains optimistic about trade prospects for 2025, with projected cargo throughput expected to reach 301.47 million metric tons (MMTs). This growth is driven by strong domestic consumption and sustained public investments,” the PPA said.
Ship calls also surged by 10.5 percent, reaching 621,807 in 2024, up from 562,888 the previous year, according to the PPA.
As of the end of December last year, sea passenger traffic increased by 7 percent, reaching 78.7 million passengers compared to 73.6 million passengers in 2023.
