{"id":7859,"date":"2026-01-29T05:48:43","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T05:48:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/global-travel-news\/philippines-hosts-asean-tourism-forum-in-cebu\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T02:33:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T02:33:12","slug":"philippines-hosts-asean-tourism-forum-in-cebu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/global-travel-news\/philippines-hosts-asean-tourism-forum-in-cebu\/","title":{"rendered":"Philippines Hosts ASEAN Tourism Forum in Cebu"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Philippines<\/div>\n

\"Philippines<\/a>Cebu, Philippines, January 29, 2026 \/ TRAVELINDEX \/ The Department of Tourism (DOT)<\/strong> on Tuesday (January 27) said that the Philippines stands to gain significant economic, tourism, and investment benefits as it hosts the 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Forum 2026<\/strong>, citing the event as a major milestone under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The hosting of ATF 2026 forms a key pillar of the country\u2019s ASEAN Chairship this year, with the theme \u201cNavigating Our Tourism Future, Together,\u201d\u00a0<\/i>and positions the Philippines at the forefront of shaping the region\u2019s tourism trajectory, integration, and long-term growth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As the lead agency for ATF 2026, the DOT noted that the forum is among the first major sectoral events of the Philippines\u2019 chairship and will anchor a full calendar of ASEAN-related meetings throughout the year\u2014bringing sustained international attention, visitor traffic, and business activity to the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The forum will convene tourism ministers, senior officials of National Tourism Organizations (NTOs), and industry leaders from across Southeast Asia for high-level ministerial meetings, working group sessions, policy discussions, and industry engagements central to ASEAN tourism cooperation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHosting the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2026 is both an economic opportunity and a strategic statement of the Philippines\u2019 commitment to advancing a cooperative, forward-looking ASEAN tourism agenda with tangible benefits across our communities,\u201d<\/span><\/i> said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco<\/span>. \u201cUnder the Marcos Administration\u2019s vision of economic development driven by tourism, this forum allows the Philippines to generate jobs, stimulate local enterprises, and attract investments, while showcasing our readiness to lead, convene, and deliver on the regional stage.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Secretary Frasco emphasized that Cebu\u2019s selection as host destination highlights the administration\u2019s commitment to dispersing tourism growth beyond Metro Manila and accelerating development in the regions. In Cebu alone, the summit is expected to draw some 5,000 guests from all over the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBy hosting ATF 2026 in Cebu, we are bringing the benefits of global tourism engagement directly to our local communities\u2014from hotels and transport providers to MSMEs, artisans, and tour operators. This is tourism growth that is felt on the ground, consistent with our thrust for inclusive and people-centered development,\u201d <\/i>she added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond ASEAN Member States, dialogue partners and stakeholders from China, Japan, South Korea, India, Russia, Australia, and the United States-ASEAN Business Council are expected to participate, further expanding opportunities for market access, air connectivity, and cross-border collaboration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Philippines is using its ASEAN Chairship to strengthen cooperation beyond borders,\u201d <\/i>Secretary Frasco said. \u201cThrough ATF 2026, we are deepening partnerships, encouraging <\/i>innovation, and opening new pathways for investment and sustainable tourism, ensuring that ASEAN remains competitive in a rapidly evolving global travel landscape.\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

The opening ceremony will take place on January 28 and will be held at Mactan Shrine, one of the important historical sites in Cebu.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Among the highlights of ATF 2026 are the ASEAN Tourism Ministerial Meeting and the ASEAN Tourism Conference on January 29, which will serve as platforms for policymakers and experts to address emerging trends, resilience, sustainability, and digital transformation in tourism.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The ATF will also witness the launch of the ASEAN Tourism Sectoral Plan (ATSP) 2026-2030, marking the region\u2019s renewed commitment towards tourism cooperation and development.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Spearheaded by the Philippines as Lead Country Coordinator, the ATSP 2026-2030 outlines the region\u2019s collective vision and plans for a sustainable and inclusive tourism industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the forum are also expected to advance cooperation between ASEAN and its dialogue partners across both public and private sectors, fostering practical initiatives that support long-term tourism development.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the DOT\u2019s marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, will lead TRAVEX 2026, ASEAN\u2019s flagship tourism trade exchange and the region\u2019s largest business-to-business platform. Scheduled from January 28 to 30 at the Mactan Expo, TRAVEX 2026 is expected to bring together over 700 international buyers, sellers, and decision-makers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The hosting of ATF 2026 marks the Philippines\u2019 return as host nearly a decade after staging the forum in 2016.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThrough ATF 2026, the Philippines is reaffirming its role as a trusted partner and leader in ASEAN tourism,\u201d <\/span><\/i>Secretary Frasco said<\/span>. \u201cThis forum advances our national tourism goals, strengthens regional solidarity, and ensures that tourism continues to uplift lives, empower communities, and drive sustainable growth for generations of Filipinos.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, cultural showcases and curated experiences will allow delegates to experience Philippine heritage and creativity firsthand, including \u2018Paglantaw,\u2019 a heritage tour of Old Cebu, and \u2018Bagani,\u2019 a cultural tour of Lapu-Lapu City. The DOT has also organized guided tours to key destinations nationwide to promote broader destination awareness and future travel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Source<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cebu, Philippines, January 29, 2026 \/ TRAVELINDEX \/ The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Tuesday (January 27) said that the Philippines stands to gain significant economic, tourism, and investment benefits as it hosts the 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Forum 2026, citing the event as a major milestone under the administration of …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8151,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[2315,37,14,2316,1966],"class_list":["post-7859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-global-travel-news","tag-global-travelnews","tag-news","tag-travelindex","tag-travelindex-media-group","tag-untourism"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7859","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7859"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7859\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7859"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}