The Bureau of Immigration (BI) remains optimistic about sustained international travel volumes in the coming weeks despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East, Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said in a press release on Wednesday, April 15.

Viado reported that passenger traffic has stayed strong, with BI frontliners processing 782,344 travelers across all international ports during the recent peak travel week.

Data showed 391,243 arrivals and 391,101 departures recorded from March 29 to April 5—figures comparable to last year’s Holy Week totals.

For the first quarter of 2026, the BI logged 4.21 million arrivals and 4.52 million departures, reflecting an increase from the same period in 2025. Officials attributed the steady numbers to pre-booked international flights made months before the conflict escalated.

However, Viado noted a sharp decline in travel to and from Middle Eastern countries, dropping to around 80% lowerduring the quarter due to disruptions and safety concerns.

Despite this, the BI expects overall passenger volume to remain stable and expressed hope that easing geopolitical tensions will further boost international travel in the coming months.