The Philippines imposes a travel tax on citizens and resident aliens of the Philippines who are leaving the country for any reason other than for official, business, or employment purposes. The travel tax is collected by the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) and is used to fund the development of the tourism industry in the country.
The amount of travel tax you are required to pay depends on your destination and the class of travel you choose. The travel tax rates are as follows:
- First class: PHP 1,620 (about $33)
- Business class: PHP 1,110 (about $22)
- Economy class: PHP 820 (about $17)
- Tourist class: PHP 820 (about $17)
The travel tax is waived for children below two years of age and for Filipinos who are traveling to countries that have a reciprocal tax-exemption agreement with the Philippines.
The travel tax must be paid at the International Tourist Bureau of the DOT or at any authorized travel agency before departure. You can also pay the travel tax online through the DOT’s website or through the Philippine Travel Tax Payment System (PTTPS), a web-based system that allows you to pay the travel tax using a credit card or through a bank transfer.
In conclusion, the travel tax in the Philippines is a mandatory fee that is imposed on citizens and resident aliens of the Philippines who are leaving the country for any reason other than for official, business, or employment purposes. The amount of travel tax you are required to pay depends on your destination and the class of travel you choose. The travel tax must be paid before departure at the DOT or at an authorized travel agency, or online through the DOT’s website or the PTTPS.