Preparations for PH hosting of Asean events in 2026 underway -- Frasco
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco says preparations for the Philippines’ hosting of major Asean events in 2026 are progressing, with the Department of Tourism (DOT) coordinating closely with local governments, stakeholders, and trained frontliners. In an interview with media on Dec. 12, 2025, she said Cebu would host the Asean Tourism Forum on Jan. 26, 2026 -- an event expected to draw international buyers and tourism partners, creating opportunities for local industry players and strengthening Cebu and the country’s overall tourism position.
KAISER JAN FUENTES
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00:00The preparations for the Philippines chairmanship of the ASEAN are well underway.
00:08It's led by the National Organizing Committee.
00:10The Department of Tourism heads the Committee on Cultural Events, Hospitality, and Tours.
00:17And with that, we have already conducted our coordination with our local government units,
00:24our local stakeholders, and we've also already conducted trainings, especially for the ASEAN among thousands of frontliners whom we will be tapping.
00:35In addition to that, the first big event for 2026 will be the ASEAN Tourism Forum, which will be held here in Cebu beginning January 26.
00:44Its preparations for that are also well underway in coordination with the local government units here, as well as our tourism stakeholders.
00:54We're very excited as there will be more than 400 buyers from all over the ASEAN region and other parts of the world
01:02that will have opportunities to purchase and to do business with our local sellers.
01:09So, what we anticipate this will do is to boost Cebu and the Philippines' tourism as a whole.
01:18Considering that Cebu will be the most, what would be the biggest sale, I mean, come on, for Cebu to the rest of the participating countries?
01:29Well, Cebu has always been a preferred destination for people from all over the world,
01:35and precisely because of its rich and diversified experience that one can have here.
01:42One moment, you're in the airport, which is world-class and award-winning,
01:47and 10 or 15 minutes later, you're at the beach.
01:50Just a few hours away, you can dive with the thresher sharks in Malapasco,
01:56or a few hours away in the south, you can dive with the whale shark.
02:03And, of course, experience the sardine run in Malapasco.
02:08Cebu being the cradle of Christianity also makes it a very distinct offering in the ASEAN.
02:14And so, we're very, very excited because this will also signal Cebu's recovery from all of the calamities that have come to pass.
02:23Secretary Kaiser Fuentes from the Manila Times, I'd like to ask, the year is about to end.
02:27Can you give us a wrap-up of the tourism sector's achievement this year?
02:30Well, first of all, it has been an incredibly challenging year for the entire country, tourism most especially.
02:39As you know, just in the last five or six months, we have had one typhoon, one calamity after the other,
02:48from earthquakes to severe weather systems to floodings and the like.
02:51And this has resulted in the issuance of no less than 31 travel alerts from countries from all over the world,
02:59all expressing concern about travel into the Philippines, whether pertaining to weather systems or to public disturbances or public issues of national concern.
03:11All of these have had a negative impact on our ability to bring in tourists from other parts of the world.
03:21Nevertheless, we continue our work with LGUs, our local stakeholders, in order to make sure that we continue to fight for Philippine tourism.
03:29And what we're seeing is very promising because there are movements on the part of national government that are really opening up our borders further.
03:41For one, India to the Philippines is now visa-free and the direct flights from India have already started in October.
03:48And just yesterday, these direct flights are daily from Delhi to Manila.
03:55Specific for Cebu, it's a very exciting time as well because taghan niya ang mga pag-o ng mga international routes to Cebu.
04:03This includes the Kuala Lumpur to Cebu, the Vietnam to Cebu, as well as Brisbane and Australia to Cebu.
04:12We hope to be able to add India to Cebu next year, and so we're working very closely with our international aviation partners and the DOTR for that.
04:22Overall, the work has not stopped. Our tourist rest areas program has continued.
04:28We've already built 14 towards our goal of building 100 across Luzon, Visayas, and Bintanao.
04:34Our Tourism Champions Challenge infrastructure program is continuing.
04:38And of course, as we have made sure to take care of our tourism workers, we've already trained over 400,000 tourism workers in the Filipino brand of service excellence.
04:50Close to the heart, of course, of our administration, and that of the president, is the welfare of our tourism workers because of all the calamities that have come to pass.
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