NAIA Introduces Layover Tours and a New Medical Tourism Lounge

Travelers passing through Manila now have more reasons to look forward to their layovers. A new program at NAIA Terminal 3 lets foreign transit passengers step outside the airport and experience parts of Metro Manila, even if they are only in the country for a few hours.

The layover tours are open to travelers from visa free countries with at least an eight hour stop in Manila. Instead of waiting inside the terminal, passengers can book one of two four hour tour options. One focuses on history and culture, with stops at Intramuros and the National Museum. The other leans toward leisure, taking visitors to entertainment hubs like Okada Manila and Solaire Resort. Each tour costs 50 US dollars per person.

The program is available not just to Philippine Airlines passengers, but also to travelers connecting to other airlines or those with onward domestic flights. Tourism officials say the goal is to give visitors a quick but meaningful glimpse of the country, even within a limited time.

There are also plans to expand the transit tours to other airports, including Cebu. Aside from promoting tourism, the initiative is expected to generate new opportunities for local tour guides, transport services, and tourism related businesses.

Booking a tour is easy. Passengers can register at Transit Tour Concierge Desks at NAIA Terminals 1 and 3, through the Philippine Airlines website, or via the mobile platform found on lovephtourism.gov.ph. With thousands of passengers transiting through Philippine airports each year, the program has strong potential to reach a wide audience.

Alongside the layover tours, a new Medical Tourism Concierge has also opened at NAIA. This lounge is designed to assist travelers coming to the Philippines for medical treatment. It offers help from arrival onward, with services focused on comfort, privacy, and smooth coordination.

The facility includes reception counters from partner hospitals and a private consultation area for patients. It also helps arrange airport assistance and transfers to hospitals or clinics. Among the medical partners are major hospitals, dental centers, and wellness providers known for serving both local and international patients.

By combining travel, health care, and wellness, the Philippines continues to position itself as a destination that offers more than just sightseeing, even starting right at the airport.