PASAY CITY — The Philippines’ growing appeal as a long-stay travel destination received a major boost after it was named Best Retirement Destination in Asia at the TripZilla Excellence Awards 2025 — a recognition expected to strengthen the country’s positioning in the high-value retirement and extended-stay tourism market.
The award marks a milestone for the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), which celebrates its 40th year of promoting the Philippines as a second home for foreign retirees.
The celebration was held on February 11 at the Le Parc Event Hall in Pasay City.
Determined through voting by more than 100,000 travelers across Southeast Asia, the recognition highlights the country’s competitive advantages: affordable cost of living, English-speaking communities, warm hospitality, and access to world-class beaches, heritage towns, and modern urban centers.
PRA General Manager Bob Zozobrado said the award reinforces the country’s reputation as more than just a destination.
“This recognition reflects trust and lived experience. The Philippines is not simply a place to retire — it is a place to belong,” he said, noting that retirees contribute to local economies, community life, and cultural exchange.
Travel platform TripZilla emphasized that retirement migration is becoming an important segment of the travel economy, as long-stay visitors generate sustained spending on housing, healthcare, leisure, dining, and domestic travel.
TripZilla CEO Winnie Tan said the Philippines stood out for its strong sense of community and quality of life.
“Retirees come for the climate and affordability, but they stay for the warmth of the Filipino people and the sense of belonging,” she said. “Retirement here is about living fully and meaningfully.”
A growing long-stay market
Since its establishment in 1985, the PRA has welcomed more than 80,000 retirees through the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV), which allows long-term residency and multiple-entry privileges.
Preferred retirement hubs include Metro Manila, Central Visayas, and Central Luzon, where retirees benefit from accessibility, healthcare infrastructure, lifestyle amenities, and proximity to major tourism destinations.
Top retiree markets include China, South Korea, India, the United States, Taiwan, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Hong Kong — demonstrating the country’s cross-cultural appeal.
Living the promise of retirement in the Philippines
Present at the celebration was Masato Miyachi, a standout personality within the PRA program. A retiree who has become one of the most inspiring figures among foreign residents, he embodies how the Philippines has evolved into a lifestyle destination — not merely a place to live, but a place to thrive.
Having spent decades in the country and worked with prominent institutions, Miyachi chose to remain and pursue the life he had long envisioned. He went on to become a Senior World Champion at the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival in the United Kingdom. Today, he shares his passion by teaching ballroom dance classes, particularly for Japanese retirees, promoting wellness, social connection, and active living.
Retirement tourism as an economic driver
Industry observers note that retirement migration represents a resilient tourism segment: retirees travel year-round, invite visiting relatives, and explore domestic destinations, supporting regional tourism growth beyond peak seasons.
The Philippines’ island geography, tropical climate, and vibrant cultural life position it strongly within Asia’s retirement tourism landscape, competing with established long-stay destinations while offering a uniquely community-oriented lifestyle.
As the PRA marks four decades of service, the recognition signals growing global confidence in the Philippines not only as a retirement haven, but as a destination where long-term visitors can integrate, invest, and contribute to local communities.
