TPB India Mega Fam Tour 2026 Expands Tourism and MICE Opportunities
The Tourism Promotions Board Philippines (TPB) successfully completed the India Mega Familiarization Tour 2026 from 7 to 14 April. The programme was designed to introduce Indian travel agents to the Philippines as a preferred destination for leisure travel and MICE tourism.
The initiative brought together 30 Indian travel delegates from multiple cities across India. The familiarization tour aimed to help travel professionals better understand the Philippines’ tourism offerings through firsthand experiences across different destinations.
The programme concluded with business-to-business networking sessions in Manila where Indian delegates connected with Philippine tourism stakeholders including hotels, resorts and travel operators.
Delegates Arrived from Major Indian Cities
The Indian delegates were sponsored by Air India and travelled from several major Indian cities including Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Lucknow among others.
The delegates were divided into two groups of 15 participants each. Both groups explored different destinations across the Philippines to experience the country’s tourism products, local culture and hospitality services.
First Group Explored Clark Boracay and Manila
The first batch visited Clark, Boracay and Manila during the programme.
In Clark, delegates explored local food experiences and tourism attractions. The itinerary also included Boracay, known for its white sand beaches and island tourism activities. In Manila, participants visited urban attractions and gained insight into the capital city’s tourism infrastructure.
The programme aimed to provide a balanced experience by combining leisure travel, culinary tourism and city-based attractions.
Second Group Visited Cebu and Bohol
The second batch travelled to Cebu and Bohol along with Manila.
In Cebu, delegates explored historical landmarks and island destinations. The programme in Bohol included countryside activities and water-based tourism experiences.
The Manila segment introduced participants to cultural and historical attractions, helping them understand the country’s heritage tourism offerings.
B2B Sessions Connected Indian Buyers with Philippine Sellers
The familiarization tour concluded with business-to-business networking sessions held on 13 April at the Grand Westside Hotel in Manila.
The event brought together Indian travel delegates with 54 tourism sellers from the Philippines. Participants included travel operators along with representatives from hotels and resorts.
The networking sessions were designed to help both sides discuss future partnerships, tourism packages and business opportunities targeting Indian travellers.
TPB Highlights Importance of Familiarization Tours
TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles said the familiarization programme helps position the Philippines as a destination for both business and leisure travel.
According to Nograles, firsthand travel experiences allow Indian travel agents to better understand the country’s tourism offerings and confidently promote them to clients in India.
The programme also supports efforts to strengthen tourism cooperation between the Philippines and India.
Tourism Cooperation Between India and the Philippines
The initiative follows recent tourism cooperation efforts between the two countries.
During the state visit of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to India in August 2025, both countries signed the Implementation Program on Tourism Cooperation for 2025 to 2028.
The agreement focuses on improving tourism connectivity, encouraging investment and supporting cultural exchange between India and the Philippines.
India Remains an Important Tourism Market
India continues to be one of the fastest-growing outbound travel markets globally and remains an important focus area for Philippine tourism authorities.
According to TPB data, Indian tourist arrivals reached 104,994 in 2025. This represented a 33.64% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Tourism growth has been supported by policy changes including the visa-free entry programme introduced on 8 June 2025. Under the policy, Indian nationals can visit the Philippines without a visa for up to 14 days for tourism purposes.
Travelers holding valid visas or residence permits from selected countries may stay for up to 30 days.
Air Connectivity Continues to Improve
Improved air connectivity is also supporting tourism growth between the two countries.
Air India increased its Delhi-Manila service from five weekly flights to daily operations starting in October 2025. The expanded flight schedule is expected to improve travel convenience and support rising demand between India and the Philippines.
Government agencies and tourism stakeholders are also working on improving Indian-friendly services, expanding tourism products and strengthening travel trade partnerships.
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