The event marked an expansion of the government’s efforts to position the Philippines as a preferred destination for Muslim travelers through improved halal services, dedicated tourism infrastructure and faith-sensitive travel experiences.

Organized by the Department of Tourism, the conference, known as RIHLAH, followed the successful launch of SALAAM, the country’s first halal travel and trade expo, in 2024. Officials said the initiative reflects a broader strategy to strengthen the Philippines’ competitiveness in one of the fastest-growing segments of the global tourism industry.

“Through the sharing of knowledge, experiences and success stories, we hope to inspire greater collaboration and innovation in advancing halal and Muslim-friendly tourism in the Philippines and beyond,” Tourism Undersecretary Myra Paz Abubakar said during the forum.

The conference featured speakers and tourism specialists from Oman, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, who discussed international best practices and emerging trends in Muslim-friendly travel.

Government officials outlined plans to expand standards for Muslim-friendly restaurants, improve tourism facilities, develop specialized travel packages and support promotional campaigns highlighting halal-friendly destinations across the archipelago.

Tourism remains a major pillar of the Philippine economy, accounting for more than 8 percent of gross domestic product in 2025. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector contributed nearly 13 percent of economic output, equivalent to about $44 billion.

The Philippines has steadily improved its standing among Muslim travelers. According to the 2026 Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index, the country ranks fifth among non-Organization of Islamic Cooperation destinations, reflecting progress in accessibility, halal services and visitor experience.

Industry forecasts indicate the Muslim travel sector will continue to expand significantly over the next decade. The Global Muslim Travel Index projects 262 million international Muslim traveler arrivals worldwide by 2030, generating an estimated $310 billion in annual spending. The market recorded 196 million travelers in 2025 and is expected to reach 208 million this year.

Business groups view the sector as a major growth opportunity. Ruby Banarea-Victorino, president of the Makati chapter of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said local enterprises must adapt to meet rising demand from Muslim visitors.

She noted that while the Philippines already offers internationally recognized beaches, shopping destinations and cultural attractions, further investment in halal-certified facilities and Muslim-friendly services will be essential to unlocking the market’s full potential.

Officials said continued collaboration between government agencies and private-sector stakeholders would be key to transforming the Philippines into a leading Muslim-friendly destination in Asia.

Filipino migrants with pending applications for U.S. permanent residency say uncertainty surrounding a recent government memo on green card processing has heightened concerns over their legal status, employment prospects and family stability, while immigration advocates continue to seek formal clarification from federal authorities.

Questions emerged after comments by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez to Philippine broadcaster GMA News, in which he said Filipinos applying for a green card would need to “go home first,” reflecting guidance that appeared consistent with a U.S. government memo whose implications have been widely debated among migrant communities.

The remarks drew attention among Filipino workers in the United States, many of whom have spent years building careers and supporting families while awaiting decisions on their residency applications.Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said uncertainty remains because U.S. authorities have yet to issue updated public guidance clarifying reports that elements of the policy may have been reconsidered.

“Stakeholders continue to be confused and dubious of the government’s claims. Until we have official word, we remain concerned and extremely cautious,” Dalal-Dheini said.The lack of clear guidance has created challenges for migrants attempting to plan their futures, according to advocates and workers affected by the policy debate.

Immigration lawyers say applicants are often reluctant to make major employment, housing or family decisions when regulatory requirements remain unclear.Among those affected is Marie, a Filipino migrant whose green card application remains pending.

She said the uncertainty extends beyond migrants themselves and affects the broader network of relatives and communities that depend on them.According to Marie, the consequences of prolonged uncertainty could also be felt by U.S. citizens who rely on migrant workers for essential services and care.

The issue is particularly significant in sectors such as elder care, where Filipino workers have long played an important role in addressing labor shortages and supporting aging populations in parts of the United States.Gabriela, a Filipino caregiver who has worked at the same retirement home in California’s San Fernando Valley for 15 years, said concerns about her immigration status have intensified because her permanent residency application has not yet been resolved.

She has cared for one patient, now 97 years old, for nine years and said the prospect of being required to leave the country raises questions about the continuity of care for elderly residents as well as the welfare of her own family.Gabriela said she migrated to the United States after concluding that opportunities in the Philippines were insufficient to provide the level of financial support she sought for her children.

With her residency application still pending, she said she fears the consequences for both her family and the people under her care if she were required to return to the Philippines before receiving a final decision on her immigration status.The concerns expressed by Filipino migrants highlight broader questions about labor migration and the economic factors that continue to drive workers overseas.

Marie said many migrants leave their home countries because of limited economic opportunities and the need to secure stable incomes for their families. She argued that immigration policies should take into account the human impact on workers who have established lives abroad while contributing to the economies and communities where they live.

“There needs to be more leadership from both the U.S. government and the Philippines government to understand the human impact, the human cost of these things,” she said.The Philippine Embassy in Washington defended the country’s record on migrant welfare and said the government remains committed to supporting Filipinos overseas.

“The Philippines is recognized globally as being at the forefront of promoting and protecting the welfare and rights of Filipino nationals overseas,” an embassy spokesperson said.The spokesperson said many overseas Filipinos choose to work abroad after assessing their personal circumstances and determining that international employment offers greater professional, financial or career opportunities than those available at home.

“While the Philippines continues to offer opportunities as a growing economy, many overseas Filipinos have carefully weighed their choices and determined that employment abroad is better suited to their personal, professional, or financial goals,” the spokesperson said.For migrants awaiting greater clarity, however, uncertainty remains the dominant concern.

Immigration advocates say formal guidance from U.S. authorities will be critical in determining how affected applicants proceed and whether existing interpretations of the policy accurately reflect government intentions.

Until such clarification is issued, lawyers, workers and advocacy groups say many applicants are likely to remain cautious about making decisions that could affect their legal status, employment and family arrangements in the United States.

More than 2.4 million Filipino workers are employed across the Middle East, primarily in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, in sectors ranging from healthcare and hospitality to retail and domestic work. Their remittances account for roughly 10 percent of the Philippine economy, making the regional downturn a major concern for households dependent on overseas income.

The conflict, now in its third month, has triggered uncertainty across Gulf economies reliant on expatriate labor. Filipinos interviewed by Arab News described abrupt job losses, shrinking work opportunities and financial stress amid declining business activity and security fears.

A Filipino domestic worker in Dubai, identified only as Cinderella, said she lost stable employment after the Syrian family she worked for left the UAE because of the conflict.

“The money I raise from my part-time work is not enough,” she said, adding that she often reduced herself to one meal a day to save money while struggling to cover rent and basic expenses.

Another Filipino worker, Kim, said she was among roughly 200 employees laid off from a luxury hotel in Doha as the hospitality sector contracted amid weaker business activity.

“The hotel was cutting employees because of the situation,” she said, adding that the company anticipated reduced operations due to the conflict.
Although the hotel later offered to reverse her termination, Kim said she chose to return permanently to the Philippines after spending more than a decade working in the Gulf.

Others said the instability accelerated plans already underway to relocate home. Tere, a Filipino resident in Bahrain, said suspended projects and weakening business conditions influenced her family’s decision to settle permanently in Manila.

Despite the downturn, remittances from the Middle East still rose slightly in the first quarter of 2026 to $1.55 billion from $1.49 billion a year earlier, according to figures cited in the report.

The Philippine government said more than 11,000 Filipinos have sought assistance through repatriation programs since the conflict intensified, including around 4,500 from the UAE, more than 2,200 from Kuwait, and nearly 1,000 each from Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Hans Leo Cacdac, secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers, said many returning workers still hoped to go back once regional conditions stabilized, with roughly 70 percent expressing interest in returning to Gulf jobs after the conflict.
The Philippine government has introduced emergency support measures including financial assistance, psychosocial support, livelihood programs and healthcare services for displaced workers. Filipinos who lost jobs but remain in the region are eligible for one-time assistance payments of $200 under crisis-response programs operating in 10 Middle Eastern countries.
For some workers, however, returning home remains financially difficult despite the instability. Cinderella said she planned to remain in Dubai for now after recently securing cleaning work, though she hoped eventually to move to Cairo, where she previously worked for a decade.