Frasco cites China, Japan, Korea's vitality to ASEAN tourism

MANDAUE CITY - Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco on Friday highlighted the key role of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea in enhancing the tourism sector in the ASEAN region. 

During the 25th Meeting of ASEAN, China, Japan and Republic of Korea Tourism Ministers, Frasco said the regional bloc's relations with the three countries could be deemed as the ''most economically significant and deeply integrated tourism partnerships around the world.''

''ASEAN's engagement with China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea remains central to the vitality of regional tourism,'' Frasco said. 

''These markets continue to play a significant role in travel to the ASEAN, supporting employment, sustaining enterprises across the tourism value chain and contributing meaningfully to economic activity across our regions,'' she added. 

ASEAN's continued engagement with these countries is critical in sustaining tourism investments and infrastructures, Frasco said. 

It underpins investment decisions and gives confidence to communities and businesses that depend on stable travel flow, she added. 

On Thursday, the Philippines convened the 29th ASEAN Tourism Ministerial Meeting as a key highlight of the country’s hosting of the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2026 in Cebu province.

The said meeting provided a platform for policymakers and experts to discuss emerging trends, resilience, sustainability, and digital transformation in the tourism industry.

It also served as the core political and strategic outcome of ATF 2026, signaling ASEAN’s tourism direction beyond 2025. —AOL, GMA Integrated News