The World Tourism Business Council has supported a proposal to add the Philippines to the list of countries that offer “nomadic visas” as a way to boost tourism.
The push for a nomadic visa in the Philippines is gaining momentum after President Bongbong Marcos ordered the drafting of an executive order for immediate implementation without tax incentives. Countries to test the initiative will also be selected.
This was based on the recommendations of the Private Sector Tourism Advisory Committee (PSAC-Tourism) to attract long-stay foreign tourists.
GTBA president Michelle Taillent said the initiative to explore visa options tailored to target groups is a welcome move for the travel and tourism industry, and the association thanked PSAC-Tourism for spearheading the nomad visa initiative.
Currently, over 50 countries offer some form of remote work visa to accommodate skilled professionals and entrepreneurs looking to expand their businesses.
“Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia are offering this type of visa and the Philippines needs to stay competitive to attract digital nomads,” Tailang said.
“This will also create many opportunities to expand the tourism job market, welcome more long-term visitors and support small businesses.”
Revitalizing the economy
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries around the world have seen an increase in remote and flexible working arrangements, paving the way for the popularity and demand for digital nomad visas to grow.
“We can use countries like Japan as a blueprint. Japan is currently working on becoming a hub for digital nomads and is benefiting from increased spending by visa holders,” Taillen said.
The GTBA president points to the positive impact long-term residents have on the housing and rental market, as well as a simplified application process: Required documentation typically includes proof of work or employment and a certain monthly income.
Security and infrastructure concerns
While promising, the rollout of the nomad visa remains challenged, mainly due to security and infrastructure issues. Fast and reliable internet connectivity across the Philippines remains crucial to attracting digital nomads.
Security issues have also come up as the government is currently facing problems with the entry of illegal foreigners involved in criminal activities in the country.
Philippine officials hope to resolve these challenges while lawmakers pass a bill on nomadic visas. House Bill 8165 aims to give foreigners working overseas the right to stay for 12 months, renewable for another 12 months.
For the GTBA, the policy on issuing nomadic visas needs to be thoroughly improved and thoroughly scrutinised.
“We don’t want any slip-ups, so we encourage leaders to take their time to solidify these measures, and start small and gradually allow longer stays,” Taillen said.
“But essentially, we welcome the initial efforts towards a nomadic visa for the Philippines that will help us maintain parity with other countries in this digital age,” she said.
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This article is brought to you by the Global Tourism Business Association.
