Cheaper in other countries? DOT says in talks with DOTr, airline partners on airfare prices

Passengers flock to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 in Pasay City on March 25, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu – The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday said it is already in talks with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on high airfare in some Philippine destinations, amid concerns it is more expensive to travel here than in other countries.

Philippines on Wednesday formally opened the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2026, which sought to showcase the country as one of the leading destinations in the Southeast Asian region.

The forum also sought to stimulate local enterprises and attract investments, according to the tourism department, with senior tourism officials and stakeholders in the regional bloc mounting meetings on digitalization, promotions, and seamless travels ahead of the forum.

READ: More expensive to travel in PH than abroad? PTAA vows to offer reduced rates

At the sidelines of the opening ceremonies, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco was asked about her thoughts on the notion that traveling in different Philippine destinations seemed more expensive than its neighbors. 

"Sa pagkakaalam ko, ang chief concern is the high price of airfare and that was why nakipag-ugnayan tayo sa Department of Transportation dahil sila naman ang agency na may mandato to determine the transport of the country,” Frasco told reporters.

"We are also coordinating with our… private airline partners and there, ni-relay natin yung concerns ng ating mga kababayan na mayroon nga pong destinations na mahal ang airfare," she said.

Based on her meeting with the Philippine Airlines, Air Asia, and Cebu Pacific last year, she said these airlines “committed” to “remove” the top two most expensive price buckets or fare classes. 

The secretary also “insisted” on the monthly publication of price index on airfares.

“That these [will] be fully transparent and that the Civil Aeronautics Board strictly enforce clear guidelines in terms of price ceilings. We are hopeful that with the quick action of the CAB and our coordination with the DOTr, mabibigyan ito ng solusyon,” she said. 

The DOT chief also told the public that not all airfares for popular destinations in the Philippines are expensive.

READ: Philippines logs 6.48 million tourists in 2025; DOT targets more for 2026

Earlier this month, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) acknowledged the perceived notion of some Filipinos that hotels, tours, and tickets in the Philippines are usually pricier than counterparts in other countries like Thailand or Vietnam.

This is why PTAA is in talks with the government and preparing a position paper on taxation.

“We are really lobbying with the Department of Tourism and Department of Finance also to help also travel agencies, resorts, and airlines to lower their taxes,”  Evangeline Manotok, Past President and Chairperson of PTAA, earlier said.