Presidential son and House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos has filed a bill seeking to abolish the travel tax, arguing that it no longer serves its purpose and burdens Filipino families while hindering tourism growth. He stated that the tax prevents families from allocating limited resources to basic needs or travel for work, family visits, and opportunities. Marcos believes removing it would boost the economy and tourism in the country.
On February 4, Sandro Marcos filed a bill to repeal Presidential Decree 1183, enacted during his grandfather Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s time, along with the amended Tourism Act of 2009, to eliminate the fixed travel tax on Filipino travelers. He argued that the tax ignores the 2022 ASEAN Tourism Agreement, under which member states agreed to phase out travel levies to boost intra-ASEAN tourism.
"When travel becomes more expensive, fewer people move, fewer people spend and fewer opportunities circulate through the economy. Lowering the cost of travel allows Filipino families to allocate their money where it matters most," he said in a statement.
The Philippines is the only Southeast Asian country imposing a travel tax on its citizens, separate from airport fees. Outbound Filipinos pay P1,620 for economy class or P2,700 for first class. According to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), 50% of proceeds go to TIEZA for infrastructure development, 40% to the Commission on Higher Education for tourism education programs, and 10% to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Marcos proposed funding these programs through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for stability, rather than relying on travel revenues that deter Filipinos. "A tax that discourages travel also discourages growth. If our neighbors are opening doors and reducing barriers, we should not be holding on to policies that place us at a disadvantage," he added.
Abolishing the tax, he said, would promote domestic and international travel, stimulating sectors like hotels, transportation, and retail, while creating jobs and fostering cultural exchange. "Travel is not a luxury for many Filipinos. It is part of how families stay connected and how workers sustain their livelihoods," he noted.
The bill comes amid public criticism of the government for promoting local travel when domestic trips have become more expensive than international ones.
