With Filipino tennis star Alex Eala scoring high on the world’s courts and Filipino celebrities making their way to regional sporting events like HYROX Singapore, it’s not surprising that the Filipino people are keen on travelling to either watch or compete in events overseas.
But the fun doesn’t stop there; indeed, the country is working on its own national sports tourism agenda, seeking to cash in on the rising popularity of the sector worldwide.
It could prove to be a financial boon to the country as the global sports tourism sector is currently worth US$707.29 billion as of end-2025 and is set to grow at a rate of 11.79 percent per annum between now and 2034.
However, given how Philippine tourism continues to struggle (and, as of press time, the current administration has yet to name a new tourism secretary), could pushing to become a regional hub for sports tourism be too far-fetched a goal?
A necessary shot in the arm
In November 2025, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) pointed out how sports tourism could be the much-needed shot in the arm for the Philippine tourism industry.
As a PSC spokesperson declared at the time: “The development of sports tourism in the country will not only strengthen the Philippines’ position as a premier international sports destination, but also generate employment, attract investments, stimulate local economies and contribute to infrastructure and tourism development.”
To be fair, the Philippines is no novice when it comes to hosting global sporting events: it has, after all, played host to several editions of the Southeast Asian Games, as well as events like the qualifiers for the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup and the FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup.
However, the country has been slow to take full advantage of such events, often repairing / refurbishing sporting venues in the months, even weeks, prior to an event as opposed to investing in their long-term maintenance.
At the same time, compared to other tourism growth areas, sports tourism has barely been given visibility in any of the promotional campaigns presented to the world.
Is the game about to change?
More recently, the Philippine government convened its first-ever National Sports Tourism-Inter Agency Committee (NST-IAC), a group that works in close coordination with both the PSC and the Department of Tourism (DOT).
The Committee’s mandate is to develop initiatives aligned with Philippine laws regarding hosting bids for international sporting events.
It has also been tasked to empower local economies by bringing large-scale domestic sporting events to their jurisdiction.
As NST-IAC chair Patrick Gregorio put it: “It’s not just about events, it’s about creating jobs, boosting local businesses, and showcasing the Philippines on the world stage. We are looking forward to making each hosting bigger and better in the years ahead. Beyond the competition itself, this effort is about charging up the local economy and positioning our country as a global sports tourism driver.”
To date, the NST-IAC has already hosted two successful sporting events: the Philippine Women’s Open in January and the Philippine Golf Championship in February.
A caveat to consider
However, it may be argued that these are but a beginning for the Committee, and these specifically revolve around hosting events.
Critics argue that there is more to sports tourism than just hosting; it also entails promoting specific destinations to both local and foreign markets.
One point that comes up in their arguments is the promotion of the island paradise of Siargao, an area rapidly gaining global attention as a prime surfing destination.
For the most part, Siargao has been promoted via word of mouth: usually one avid surfer regaling his fellow enthusiasts with experiences in those southern waves.
In which case, the NST-IAC seriously needs to step up its game, specifically to the Millennial, Gen Z, and even Gen Alpha travellers who do spend to join events overseas or to ride the waves and bike the hills elsewhere.
At the same time, the public is waiting on the Committee to outline its strategic direction: specifically what events to promote, what sports to pitch to global travellers, what amenities to add to the growing number of sporting venues throughout the country.
It is, to be fair, early days, but let us make something clear: if the NST-IAC doesn’t learn from the promotional mistakes of both the PSC and the DOT, then its formation and impetus will all be for nought.
