The Philippine tourism sector achieved a reduction in water consumption in 2025, but its energy use and carbon emissions continued to climb, according to the latest sustainability data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Water consumption declines
The PSA reported that total tourism water consumption dropped by 5.7 percent to 208.74 million cubic meters (m3) in 2025, down from 221.40 million m3 in 2024. Accommodation services for visitors remained the largest water consumer among tourism-related activities, accounting for 88.93 million m3, or 42.6 percent of the sector’s total water consumption.
Energy use and emissions rise
Despite the decline in water use, tourism’s energy consumption from electricity, petroleum, and other fuel products increased by 0.6 percent to 7,532.16 kilotonnes of oil equivalent (KTOE) in 2025, compared with 7,484.20 KTOE a year earlier. Transport services for visitors posted the highest energy demand at 3,081.75 KTOE, representing 40.9 percent of the sector’s total energy consumption.
The rise in energy use drove higher carbon emissions. The PSA reported that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from tourism reached 10,587.14 gigagrams (Gg) CO2 in 2025, up 3.9 percent from 10,184.93 Gg CO2 in 2024. Transport services accounted for the bulk of these emissions at 7,475.83 Gg CO2, equivalent to 70.6 percent of the tourism sector’s total carbon emissions from electricity and fuel consumption.
Data source and purpose
The data came from the PSA’s Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism, a developmental satellite account compiled since 2021 to assess the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the tourism industry. The study aims to provide policymakers with indicators that support sustainable tourism development.
