PASAY CITY, PHILIPPINES – 21 October 2025 – The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, in partnership with the Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) Korea, successfully hosted a golf familiarization tour for select South Korean journalists from October 8 to 13, 2025.
Eight journalists from leading South Korean travel media outlets joined the activity, experiencing first-hand the Philippines’ golf tourism offerings in Manila, Clark, Batangas, and Cavite.
With its tropical climate, the Philippines presents an ideal escape for Korean golf aficionados to play year-round, especially during the winter months. The tour also allowed the journalists to see the latest developments in key Philippine destinations that resonate strongly with the South Korean market, reinforcing the country’s appeal as a multi-faceted leisure destination. The activity forms part of TPB’s broader campaign to tap into the growing Korean outbound travel market and position the Philippines as a premier golf tourism destination in Asia.
The South Korean journalists enjoyed the golf and the views at the picturesque Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Batangas
The group played at some of the country’s top golf courses, including Mimosa Plus Golf Course in Clark Freeport Zone, Club Intramuros Golf Course in Manila (where they tried night golf), Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Batangas, and Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in Cavite. Beyond golf, the participants explored local attractions, sampled Filipino cuisine, and visited Korean restaurants popular among expatriates, giving them a fuller sense of leisure offerings in Luzon—the largest of the three main island groups in the Philippines. On the final day, Mr. Hyok Choi of the Korean Chamber of Commerce Philippines shared insights on investment and business opportunities in Philippine golf tourism.
“The Philippines offers year-round golf experiences that perfectly complement the South Korean market,” said TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles. “We are eager to showcase our world-class golf courses and leisure facilities, and we hope our media partners will help share these experiences with travelers back home.”
Joining the journalists at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club were Mr. Hyok Choi (4 th from left) from the Korean Chamber of Commerce Philippines and Club Director Ramil Villanueva (center).
This golf familiarization tour is a vital marketing initiative that aims to boost tourist arrivals from South Korea through stories and articles published in their local media. South Korea remains the Philippines’ top source of tourist arrivals for 2025, having welcomed nearly one million visitors from January up to date. Through this initiative, TPB aims to reinforce the Philippines’ position as a preferred destination for golf, leisure, and cultural tourism, while building lasting partnerships with South Korean media and travel trade partners.
ABOUT TPB
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines aims to market and promote the Philippines domestically and internationally as a world-class tourism and MICE destination. As an attached agency of the Philippine Department of Tourism, TPB develops strategic partnerships with private and public stakeholders to deliver unique high-value experiences for visitors, significantly contributing to increased arrivals, receipts, and investments in the country. For more information, please
visit www.tpb.gov.ph.
Reference:
Atty. Kristina M. de Guzman
Head
Media Relations and Communications Division
[email protected]
