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Mactan-Cebu International Airport positions itself as a key Visayas–Mindanao gateway as the government launched visa-free entry for Chinese travelers
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Visa-free access expected to lift inbound tourism and regional connectivity via Cebu
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Airport highlights air-to-air and air-to-sea transfer options to speed onward travel
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CEB Connects shortens connection times to 60 minutes for international flights and 35 minutes for domestic flights
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CEB+ program to integrate air-to-sea transfers, enabling seamless travel to nearby islands
Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is positioning itself as a primary gateway to the Visayas and Mindanao as the Philippine government rolls out visa-free entry for Chinese nationals, a move expected to boost inbound tourism and regional travel in 2026.
Under the new policy, Chinese travelers are allowed visa-free entry for up to 14 days for tourism and business purposes at two Philippine airports, MCIA and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.
Airport officials said the measure is expected to support higher international arrivals while strengthening Cebu’s role as a hub for onward domestic travel.
MCIA, the country’s busiest gateway outside Metro Manila, currently serves as a central transfer point for travelers connecting to destinations across the Visayas and Mindanao through an expanding domestic flight network and integrated transfer services.
READ: MCIA named Asia airport of the year for streamlined transfer operations
With the visa-free access in place, Chinese travelers arriving in Cebu can already connect to multiple destinations via direct domestic flights, supported by initiatives designed to shorten transfer times and improve passenger flow.
These include CEB Connects, MCIA’s air-to-air transfer service, which reduces connection times to about 60 minutes for international flights and 35 minutes for domestic flights. The airport is also preparing to roll out CEB+, an airport-to-seaport connectivity program that will allow passengers to combine air and sea travel to reach nearby island destinations more efficiently.
“Improving connectivity allows travelers arriving in Cebu to move more efficiently to other parts of the country, whether by air or sea. These initiatives are designed to support tourism growth while helping distribute visitor traffic across the regions,” Rafael Aboitiz, vice president and head of airports of Aboitiz InfraCapital, which operates MCIA, said in a statement.
Department of Tourism data showed that of the 5.6 million tourists who visited the Philippines last year, 262,144 were from China.
Airport officials said improved connectivity from Cebu makes destinations such as Bohol accessible via fast ferry, and Northern Mindanao, through Laguindingan International Airport (LIA) in Misamis Oriental, more convenient for foreign visitors traveling for business or leisure.
MCIA and LIA have been operated by Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC) since October 2024 and April 2025, respectively. Together with Bohol-Panglao International Airport, they form the AIC Airports portfolio, which was projected to account for about 16 million passengers by end-2025, or more than 20% of the country’s total passenger traffic.
AIC has been upgrading Bohol-Panglao and Laguindingan airports since 2025.
READ: Aboitiz InfraCapital rolls out safety upgrades at Bohol, Laguindingan airports
In 2025, Aboitiz InfraCapital, the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, marked its 10th year. It develops water, transport, mobility, and digital infrastructure projects.
