Philippine Tourism Empowers Elders Through New Homestay Initiative
The Department of Tourism (DOT) is elevating its homestay program by enlisting senior citizens as hosts, fostering authentic cultural experiences for visitors while providing new opportunities for older Filipinos. This initiative stems from a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the DOT and the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC). The partnership aims to enhance the well-being, inclusion, and empowerment of seniors, encouraging their active participation in tourism-related endeavors.
Homestays as Unique Lodging
A homestay offers tourists a unique lodging option, allowing them to reside with local families for a fee. This arrangement provides a more immersive travel experience, enabling visitors to truly engage with the local culture and daily life. Beyond cultural immersion, homestays promote sustainable tourism by utilizing existing homes and offering supplemental income for hosts. Their popularity has surged, largely due to platforms like Airbnb and other online booking sites.
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Authentic Travel Experiences in the Philippines
While the DOT website currently doesn't feature a comprehensive list of accredited homestay establishments, its marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), showcases 100 such listings on its Travel Philippines app. This push for authentic experiences aligns with global trends; a 2024 study by UK-based think tank Oxford Economics highlighted that travelers are increasingly seeking genuine cultural encounters, a trend that has gained momentum since the pandemic.
During the MOU signing, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco emphasized the significant opportunities this partnership presents for senior citizens. She noted that it allows them "not only to enjoy the tourism products that we have in our country, but rather to be meaningful contributors to a tourism industry that thrives and continues to provide gainful livelihood to our fellow Filipinos."
Dr. Mary Jean P. Loreche, NCSC Officer-in-Charge and Commission Member IV, echoed this sentiment, underscoring the agency's commitment to building a society that supports and celebrates aging. She stated, "We want to show our foreign and domestic tourists how senior citizens are blessed in the Philippines. It helps that we are given an opportunity to partner with [the DOT]."
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and NCSC Officer-in-Charge and Commission Member IV Dr. Mary Jean P. Loreche led the ceremonial signing of the MOU with DOT Undersecretary Maria Rica C. Bueno and NCSC Acting Executive Director Emmanuel E. Daez as witnesses last May 21.
As of May 31, 2025, the DOT reports 234 accredited homestay establishments across the nation. The Philippine Statistics Authority's 2020 data estimates approximately 9.24 million senior citizens (defined as individuals 60 years and older), representing about six percent of the total population.
The collaboration between the DOT and NCSC extends beyond just homestays. Both agencies will jointly pursue various initiatives, including developing elderly-friendly tourism infrastructure, promoting barrier-free tourism, enhancing digital literacy and access to online tourism platforms for seniors, conducting senior artisan workshops and local product markets, launching tourism-linked wellness programs, promoting culinary arts tourism, and facilitating the development of retirement villages and other age-appropriate tourism services.
To ensure the successful implementation of these nationwide initiatives, a Project Steering Committee and a Technical Working Group will be established by both agencies.
The DOT has already been active in senior-focused programs, such as its annual "EngAge" program for retiring personnel and the Barrier-Free Tourism initiative, which caters to persons with disabilities (PWDs) and elderly travelers. Additionally, the department offers various regional wellness, heritage, faith/pilgrimage, farm, and creative tourism activities tailored for senior citizens. The DOT also operates Tourist Rest Areas nationwide, equipped with amenities friendly to both seniors and PWDs.
