Foreign investments in the sectors of infrastructure and public services will greatly benefit Philippine tourism, enabling the country to capture a larger market of foreign tourists that are all flocking to the country's Southeast Asian neighbors. This is according to former Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, also the chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, during the panel’s hearing on Senate Resolution No. 1121, or the inquiry into the economic impact of poor and inadequate infrastructure, frequent power outages, and insufficient water supply on the tourism sector.
“Talo naman natin ang mga beach at ang mga tanawin ng mga kapitbahay natin dito sa Southeast Asia (We're better than our neighbors in Southeast Asia when it comes to beaches and sceneries),” Zubiri said. “Pero talong-talo nila tayo sa mga airport, sa power supply, sa public transport, at sa connectivity. Kaya napag-iiwanan pa rin tayo, kahit mas maganda naman talaga dito sa Pilipinas (But they're ahead of us when it comes to airports, powers supply, public transport and connectivity.
That's why we're still being left out even if it's more beautiful here in the Philippines),” he added. In 2023, Thailand had the best tourism economy in Southeast Asia, receiving 28 million foreign arrivals. This was followed by Malaysia with 20 million, Singapore with 13.
6 million, Vietnam with 12.6 million, Indonesia with 11.7 million, and Cambodia 5.
5 million. The Philippines, meanwhile, welcomed .