Travelling Abroad Could Get Cheaper as Tulfo Seeks to Abolish Travel Tax

Senator Erwin Tulfo has filed a bill to abolish the travel tax, the extra fee Filipino travellers pay every time they leave the country. He said the charge has long “burdened” Filipinos’ travel rights.

At present, the travel tax costs:

• ₱2,700 for first-class passengers

• ₱1,620 for economy-class passengers

Some travellers, such as dependents of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), already get reduced rates.

Under Senate Bill No. 1409, Tulfo wants to remove this fee altogether. He said this move aligns with the ASEAN Tourism Agreement of 2002, which requires member countries to remove travel levies and taxes among their citizens.

“Nearly fourteen years after its signing, such travel taxes continue to be imposed,” Tulfo said. “This measure represents a concrete step toward making travel more equitable, accessible, and reasonably priced for Filipinos.”

He added that it’s the national government’s job—not taxpayers’—to fund tourism programmes and infrastructure.

Also read: What the Philippine Travel Tax Is and Why It Raises Eyebrows

Image credit: Manila International Airport Authority

If the bill passes, travel tax collection will be prohibited, and travellers who already paid for flights scheduled after the law’s effectivity can get refunds immediately.

Right now, travel tax collections are divided among government agencies:

• 50% goes to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA)

• 40% goes to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

• 10% goes to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)

If abolished, these programmes will instead be funded through the General Appropriations Act.

For now, most airlines already include the travel tax when you book online or through an agent. If not, you can pay via TIEZA’s website or at a TIEZA counter at the airport before your flight.

If Tulfo’s proposal pushes through, this could mean cheaper tickets and fewer travel hassles for Filipinos heading abroad. For a country full of balikbayans, budget travellers, and overseas dreamers, that’s a change many will likely support.

Featured image credit: Manila International Airport Authority