10 lesser-known destinations to visit in the Philippines

Help Philippine tourism recover by discovering the best of our own backyard

- By KRIZETTE CHU

Despite modest gains, Philippine tourism is still catching up. In 2024, the country welcomed 5.95 million foreign visitors, a nine percent increase from the previous year but still short of the 8.26 million peak in 2019. Meanwhile, Thailand and Vietnam have surged ahead with 28 million and nearly 13 million foreign arrivals, respectively.

To widen the market, the govern-ment introduced visa-free entry for Indian tourists in June 2025, a move aimed at increasing non-traditional arrivals. Still, growth is expected to plateau at around six million foreign visitors for the year.

But there’s good news: domestic tourism remains the true lifeline. In 2023 alone, P2.67 trillion in domestic tourism spending contributed 8.6 percent of the country’s GDP, while tourism provided 6.21 million jobs nationwide.

As the Philippines continues to lag behind its regional neighbors in at-tracting foreign tourists, world traveler and adventurer Mark Togonon, Smooth Travel and Tours travel agency owner who has visited all Seven Wonders of the World, says the most transformative experiences can be found in our own is-lands. Here he shares 10 incredible desti-nations that prove we don’t need to leave the country to experience true wonder.

1. Onuk Island — Balabac, Palawan

Onuk’s translucent waters and serene sandbars feel almost otherworldly—so clear, the sea floor appears just inches below.

“It is the clearest we have ever seen, incredibly clear that one could see the boat’s shadow on the seabed below and easily spot some hawksbill and green sea turtles gliding by. Here, your snorkels are practically useless as the water’s clear visibility extends as far as the eyes can see,” he shares.

How to get there:

Van from Puerto Princesa to Buli-luyan Port (five to six hours) → Boat to Onuk Island (one to one and a half hours).

2. Lobo Cave — Jiabong, Samar