The Philippine Ambassador to Israel aims to increase Israeli tourist arrivals in 2026 to the Southeast Asian nation through a proposed direct flight between Tel Aviv and Manila, according to a statement shared by the Philippines’ Tel Aviv embassy on Sunday.
Ambassador Aileen S. Mendiola placed a sharp increase in Israeli tourism to the Philippines at the top of her agenda for 2026, aiming to increase Israel’s approximately 25,000 tourists to the country to 35,000 annually.
Ambassador Mendiola said that the country is putting effort into increasing Israeli interest and awareness of the Philippines as a destination to visit.
Israel is home to more than 40,000 Filipino nationals, the majority of whom work as home caregivers nationwide. Around 50,000 Filipino nationals travelled to Israel in 2025, with half as many Israelis travelling to the Philippines, all without direct flight options.
“Our relations began with strong people-to-people ties, when the Philippines opened its doors to 1,300 Jewish refugees fleeing the Holocaust,” Ambassador Aileen S. Mendiola told The Jerusalem Post. “As we forge the future of Philippines–Israel relations, people will remain at the center, with hopes for a direct flight and increased tourism, trade, and investment between our two countries.”
The Philippines is lauded as one of the world’s most distinctive and gorgeous destinations. The country comprises an archipelago including 7,641 islands, many of which are uninhabited and unspoiled. The nation is situated in the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it home to 21 active volcanoes, dense jungles, and one of the world’s largest coastlines.
Nature in Philippines, a tourist attraction
Visitors may find the country’s beaches, waterfalls, coral reefs, and marine life appealing, while the country has much more to offer. Rice terraces and indigenous communities, and millennia-old traditions are also among the country’s unique offerings.
Ambassador Mendiola emphasized the broad range of activities and types of trips that Israelis can take, noting that the country has diving, surfing, trekking, and other adventure activities; romantic travel, wellness, and leisure activities are also key for travellers looking for a less active trip.
She added that in order to achieve this goal, she is pushing for strengthened collaborations between the Israeli travel industry, specifically wholesalers and agencies, and is working to engage with airline partners to make this proposed flight path come to fruition.
These efforts would stimulate demand and increase two-way travel between the Philippines and Israel, Ambassador Mendiola said. “We are actively engaging partner airlines, as well as tourism and transport authorities on both sides, intending to achieve concrete outcomes by the third quarter of 2026,” she said.
The envoy noted encouraging indications of success. Despite the absence of direct flights, high airfares, and flight disruptions, the high volume of Israeli and Filipino travellers has led to figures to clearly justify the impact and viability of two to three weekly direct flights between Tel Aviv and Manila.