Philippines cited as Muslim friendly destination

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines was recognized as the fifth best Muslim-friendly destination among the non-member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2026.

The travel index described the Philippines as a “standout performer” after emerging three spots higher than its 2025 ranking.

“This growth trajectory reflects an aggressive, multi-layered institutional commitment to engineering an inclusive tourism ecosystem that balances the country’s legendary hospitality with rigorous faith-compatible parameters,” said GMTI.

It also cited the Department of Tourism’s structuring of faith-based offerings to boost visibility and consumer discoverability.

Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay welcomed the recognition on Friday, stressing that the government continues to expand the country’s local halal infrastructure.

“This includes training workers, developing Muslim-friendly accommodation standards, expanding access to halal-certified food options and encouraging the provision of prayer facilities and culturally sensitive services across destinations,” Angara-Mathay said.

The tourism chief said the number of halal-certified accommodation establishments in the country has grown to 70, up sharply from just 17 in 2024.

The Philippines joins Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and Thailand in the top five list.