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The Philippine government is determined to attract more foreign tourist visitors (despite recent dismal arrival numbers) by facilitating the issuance of electronic or e-visas, modernizing and improving the country’s international gateway such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA and offering a layover experience for travelers, as well as facilitating and attracting more medical tourists who would normally go to Thailand or South Korea.

The New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), which has taken over the operations of NAIA has been upgrading the facilities of the premier gateway to the country for over a year now, slowly changing the past criticism that the NAIA was among the top worst airports in Asia. Just this week, NNIC  officially launched new passenger facilities and systems at NAIA Terminal 3, including the biometric Immigration e-Gates, the All-Filipino Tambayan Food Hall, the Mezzanine Food Hall and a new Dignitaries Lounge, as part of the continuing upgrades being implemented across the airport.

A total of 78 biometric Immigration e-Gates are being deployed across NAIA under a phased rollout, with systems already operational at Terminals 1 and 3, where international flights operate. Delivered and funded by NNIC as part of its airport modernization program, the rollout allows new technology to be implemented more quickly at the country’s main gateway.

The system enables eligible passengers to complete immigration clearance in about 20 seconds, helping ease congestion during peak travel periods. It uses biometric identity verification and document authentication to streamline processing while meeting the security requirements of border authorities.

Transit tours

Eligible travelers from visa-free countries with a minimum layover of eight hours will now be able to  enjoy a safe, time-bound, curated glimpse of Metro Manila’s iconic attractions through the Transit Tours that was launched by the Department of Tourism this week.

Last Tuesday, Dec. 16, President  Marcos, together with First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, led the launch of the Transit Tours program and a Medical Tourism Concierge  program, in a bid to modernize and enhance the country’s tourism experience for visitors.

President Marcos affirmed his  administration’s commitment to position the Philippines as a tourism powerhouse in Asia.

According to the President, “All these improvements will benefit travelers, including families with children and the elderly, and of course, these changes were designed with our OFWs in mind.”

With the introduction of the two programs, the new DOT initiative will enhance the travel experience of international passengers with long layovers.

Instead of spending several hours confined to the terminal, travelers will instead be given an opportunity to enjoy a curated glimpse of the capital city of Manila.

Other countries in the region, such as Singapore, have a well-established free layover tour, while Malaysia and Thailand offer layover options through tie-up programs with hotels and airlines.

The installation of a Medical Tourism Concierge area, the President noted, will provide  a  people-centered service that is designed to receive and assist patients with both efficiency and with compassion.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said that the two initiatives are in line with the National Tourism Development Plan 2023 to 2028, which involves diversifying the country’s tourism offerings through gateway-based tourism initiatives.

“These initiatives reflect a stakeholder-driven approach to governance built through collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, and tourism frontliners,” Secretary Frasco said.

She said that under President Marcos and the vision of Bagong Pilipinas, “we continue to modernize our gateways to work better for people and compete confidently on the global stage. When we elevate the visitor experience, we create livelihood for Filipinos and present the Philippines with confidence to the world.”

Initially, two itineraries will be offered for layover passengers, at a cost of  $50 per person — inclusive of entrance fees and insurance coverage.

The  first itinerary is a morning tour of Intramuros, Manila and the National Museum.

The second itinerary is  an afternoon tour of entertainment and shopping at Okada Hotel and Solaire Resort in Pasay and Paranaque City.

A 49-seater, air-conditioned bus, with a DOT-accredited tour guide and a police officer, will accompany layover passengers who choose to avail themselves of layover  tours.

Tour bookings may be made through the LovePH mobile app, the Philippine Airlines website, or simply by walk-in registration at the Transit Tour concierge desks at the NAIA Terminal 3.

Specialized medical support center

Meanwhile, to further position the country as a leading destination for world-class medical services and wellness experiences,  the DOT explained that the Medical Tourism Concierge program will  provide personalized assistance to medical travelers — from arrival through departure — connecting travelers with DOT-accredited wellness and tourism experiences tailored for post-treatment recovery and leisure, including spa resorts, healing retreats and cultural or shopping excursions.

The Medical Tourism Concierge program will be done in partnership with leading medical and wellness institutions such as The Medical City, St. Luke’s Medical Center, Asian Hospital and Medical Center, Makati Medical Center, Belo Medical Group, Gan Advanced Osseointegration Center, Novodental, Urban Smiles and members of the Wellness Tourism Association of the Philippines.

The Medical Tourism Concierge initiative ensures that every medical tourism visitor receives quality care and access to world-class health care and wellness experiences.

An International Patient Concierge (IPC) at the chosen medical facility in the Philippines will prepare complete medical documents regarding the patient’s condition and necessary treatments (including passport and visa requirements, international ticket and medical clearance, as needed) for travel to the country.

The patient will go through the regular lanes of the Bureau of Immigration, the Bureau of Quarantine and the Bureau of Customs.

After clearance, the medical tourist  shall proceed to the Medical Tourism Concierge, where the assigned IPC (depending on the medical facility) will assist the traveler while waiting for transportation. Likewise, a private patient room is also available for VIP patients’ privacy.