Partnership puts live performances, Filipino creativity, culinary experiences, and immersive leisure at the heart of the Philippine travel experience.

DOT and Newport World Resorts Sign MOU to Boost Philippine Entertainment Tourism

The Philippines is looking beyond beaches and breathtaking landscapes to give travelers even more reasons to visit, stay longer, and return.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) and Newport World Resorts have formalized a new partnership to strengthen entertainment as a major driver of Philippine tourism. Through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on September 1, the two organizations will work together to promote live performances, original cultural productions, culinary experiences, and other leisure attractions as essential parts of the country’s evolving tourism landscape.

The collaboration is designed to encourage longer visitor stays, increase tourism spending, and inspire repeat travel by giving both Filipino and international travelers more experiences to enjoy throughout their journeys.

“Entertainment has become one of the strongest reasons travelers choose to visit and return to a destination, and this partnership allows us to bring that experience to more Filipinos and international visitors alike,” said DOT Secretary Maria Bernardita Angara-Mathay.

“Through this collaboration, we hope to showcase Filipino talent and creativity as part of what makes the Philippines worth discovering.”

Angara-Mathay added that the partnership also creates opportunities for the country’s creative economy, supporting everyone from performers and artists to production teams while integrating entertainment experiences into broader efforts to grow tourism across the country.

The signing ceremony was led by Secretary Angara-Mathay and Newport World Resorts President and CEO Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez. They were joined by Newport World Resorts Chief Legal and Administrative Officer Atty. Walter Mactal, Senior Vice President for Marketing Michelle Suarez, and Tourism Assistant Secretary for Branding and Marketing Communications Armand Lorenze Sapitan.

Turning Entertainment Into a Travel Experience

Under the agreement, the DOT will incorporate Newport World Resorts’ entertainment and leisure offerings into its Love the Philippines and Discover More to Love campaigns.

The partnership will also support the promotion of original Filipino productions and connect Newport World Resorts with tourism stakeholders in the Philippines and key overseas markets.

For travelers, the collaboration could mean more convenient ways to experience Metro Manila through curated packages that combine accommodations, dining, and entertainment.

Newport World Resorts will develop integrated stay, dine, and watch packages centered on experiential travel, while also creating visitor itineraries focused on Metro Manila. The integrated resort will explore promotional rates and ticket offers that can transform national tourism campaigns into ready-to-book experiences for visitors.

“On behalf of Newport World Resorts, we thank the Department of Tourism for this partnership and for recognizing entertainment as a meaningful pillar of Philippine tourism,” Rodriguez said.

“Guided by our Executive Chairman Kevin L. Tan’s commitment to nation-building, we have always believed that tourism becomes stronger when destinations offer more than access and accommodation. They must offer experiences that give people a deeper reason to visit, stay longer, return, and ultimately, discover more to love about the Philippines.”

Filipino Stories Take Center Stage

Live entertainment will play a major role in the new partnership, with Newport World Resorts’ production arm, Full House Theater Company (FHTC), helping bring original productions to local and international audiences.

Its latest production, Bongga Ka, ‘Day! The Annie Batungbakal Musical is set to open on September 18, 2026, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.

The musical is part of a growing effort to spotlight Filipino stories, music, and talent while positioning live theater as another compelling reason for travelers to include Metro Manila in their Philippine itinerary.

FHTC will also serve as the production arm of Westside Resort, which is scheduled to open in Entertainment City this year. The upcoming development will add four theater venues, further expanding the country’s live entertainment landscape.

Both Newport World Resorts and Westside Resort are under Travelers Group, which is expanding its entertainment footprint as part of a broader ambition to help position the Philippines as the “Broadway of Asia.”

As destinations around the world increasingly compete through experiences rather than attractions alone, the partnership signals a growing recognition that Philippine tourism can offer travelers much more than scenic escapes.

From world-class performances and original Filipino productions to dining experiences and integrated leisure destinations, entertainment is increasingly becoming part of the journey itself—and another reason for visitors to discover more to love about the Philippines.

Follow and subscribe to OutofTownBlog.com on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube  for more Travel-related updates.

Read: DOT and Klook Renew Partnership to Boost Domestic Travel and Bring Philippine Experiences to the World