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The Philippines has made significant progress in the Henley Passport Index, climbing four spots in the third quarter of this year. The index, which measures the travel freedom of citizens from various countries, now places the Philippine passport at 74th, up from 78th in 2022.

Henley & Partners managing director, Scott Moore, suggests that the country's growing economy may have contributed to this improvement. Since the inception of the index in 2006, the Philippines' highest ranking was 62nd in 2009, while its lowest rankings were 80th in 2015 and 2022.

Filipinos can currently travel to 67 countries visa-free, including several Southeast Asian nations. The Henley Passport Index evaluates 199 passports worldwide based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA)

For 2023, Singapore has taken the lead, surpassing Japan as the world's most powerful passport. Germany, Italy, and Spain share the second spot while Japan now holds third place.

Despite the passport ranking achievement, the Philippines' tourism sector has faced recent challenges, including issues with campaign slogans and domestic airport inconveniences.