Cebu Province welcomed over one million tourists from January to August 2026. The rise in foreign arrivals largely drove this growth, according to the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO).
The province recorded 1,080,809 tourist arrivals during the eight-month period — surpassing the 958,317 logged in the same stretch last year. This represents an overall growth of 12.78 percent.
Notably, foreign visitors outpaced domestic travelers in terms of growth rate. Foreign arrivals reached 242,108, marking a 27.28 percent increase year-on-year. Meanwhile, domestic arrivals climbed 9.19 percent to 838,575.
South Korea Remains Top Source Market
Among international markets, South Korea continued to dominate as Cebu’s largest source of foreign visitors, contributing 60,518 arrivals. The United States followed with 22,866, while Japan recorded 22,223.
Furthermore, the tourism report revealed that 53 foreign markets posted growth during the period. South Korea registered the biggest jump with 13,630 additional arrivals. China saw an increase of 10,546 visitors. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom added 3,409 more visitors compared to the same period last year.
PTO Chief Cites ‘Encouraging Developments’
In a letter addressed to Gov. Pamela Baricuatro dated September 30, Provincial Tourism Officer Rowena Lu Montecillo described the figures as showing “encouraging developments in Cebu’s international tourism market.”
The uptick in foreign arrivals coincides with ongoing efforts by the provincial government to boost tourism promotions and improve direct international air connectivity to Cebu.
MCIA Passenger Traffic Also Climbs
Separate data from Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) showed that 7,355,524 passengers passed through the airport from January to July 2026, as cited by the Provincial Public Information Office. Of this total, international passengers accounted for 1,930,856 — a 14 percent increase from the previous year.
New International Routes Coming in November
Cebu is poised to gain more international connections starting November. According to an earlier CDN Digital report, Vietnamese budget carrier Vietjet will launch direct services to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The Cebu-Hanoi route is scheduled to begin on November 10, followed by the Cebu-Ho Chi Minh City flights the next day.
In addition, Cebu Pacific is expanding its international operations from MCIA with new direct services to Shanghai, China, and Nagoya, Japan, both slated for November. The local carrier will also reinstate its direct Cebu-Ho Chi Minh route, adding another link between Cebu and Vietnam.
Cordova Tops Destination List
Among destinations monitored by the PTO, Cordova recorded the highest number of tourist arrivals from January to August at 171,552. Santa Fe followed with 120,197, while Daanbantayan logged 59,435 during the same period.
The tourism office likewise acknowledged the continued role of local governments, tourism establishments, and other industry stakeholders in recording and monitoring visitor arrivals across the province.
