Philippine Tourism’s 2025 Water, Energy, and Emissions Report
While the Philippine tourism industry achieved a milestone in reducing water consumption in 2025, the data also highlights the challenge of rising energy demands and CO2 emissions.
The Philippines tourism industry used less water in 2025, even as the sector increased its energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) generation, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
In a July 2, 2026, press release, the PSA reported that the tourism industry consumed 208.74 million cubic meters (m3) of water in 2025, a decrease of 5.7% from the 221.40 million m3 recorded in 2024.
The sector’s total energy consumption totalled 7,532.16 Kilotonnes of Oil Equivalent (KTOE) in the same time period, a 0.6% increase from the 7,484.20 KTOE recorded in 2014.
Transport service for visitors consumed the highest amount of energy, contributing to 40.9% of the tourism industry’s total energy consumption from the use of electricity, petroleum, and other fuel products.
CO2 emissions resulting from the use of electricity, petroleum, and other fuel products by the tourism sector amounted to 10,587.14 Gigagrams (Gg) CO2 in 2025. This represented a 3.9% increase from the 10,184.93 Gg CO2 recorded in 2024.
Transport services also contributed the most of the sector’s CO2 emissions, making up 70.6% of the total CO2 emissions resulting from the use of electricity, petroleum, and other fuel products.
How the Philippine Tourism Industry Integrates Environmental Standards With Growth Strategies
Philippine tourism operators have begun to environmental standards in alignment with the Tourism Department’s National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan 2024–2028 and global industry mandates for sustainable destination management.
Cebu Pacific’s 2025 Integrated Report outlines its programs and policies to mitigate the impacts of climate change. This includes the work-rest cycles implemented for ground personnel, shaded rest areas, air-conditioned break rooms, and workplace hydration stations.
Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines documents its partnership with clean energy producer First Gen Corporation in its 2025 Sustainability Report. Under the partnership, three locations of the national carrier’s operations will be powered by geothermal power sourced from First Gen’s Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant in Leyte.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Philippine Statistics Authority reported the tourism industry consumed 208.74 million cubic meters of water in 2025, a 5.7% decrease from the 221.40 million cubic meters recorded in 2024, based on its developmental tourism satellite account.
Total energy consumption reached 7,532.16 kilotonnes of oil equivalent in 2025, a 0.6% increase year-on-year. Transport services for visitors were the leading consumer, accounting for 40.9% of the sector’s total energy use from electricity, petroleum, and other fuels.
Transport services for visitors generated the largest share of tourism-related CO2 emissions in 2025, accounting for 70.6% of the sector’s total emissions from electricity, petroleum, and other fuel use, according to PSA data.
CO2 emissions from the tourism sector’s use of electricity, petroleum, and other fuel products reached 10,587.14 gigagrams in 2025, a 3.9% increase from the 10,184.93 gigagrams recorded in 2024, per the PSA’s tourism satellite account.
Cebu Pacific’s 2025 Integrated Report outlines adjusted work-rest cycles, shaded rest areas, and hydration stations for ground personnel during extreme heat. Philippine Airlines’ 2025 Sustainability Report details a partnership with First Gen Corporation to power three operational sites with geothermal energy from Leyte.
