Philippines tourism expects ‘big boost’ from ASEAN chairmanship – DOTMANILA, Philippines — After a lackluster 2025, the tourism industry is expected to get a “big boost” from the country’s chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, according to Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco. “Historically, our numbers are not that big, that’s why we look on having a more visible presence in the ASEAN,” Frasco told reporters last week. She noted that tourist arrivals from other ASEAN member-states were not as high as those from other countries. Based on Bureau of Immigration records of tourist arrivals in 2025, Singapore posted the biggest among ASEAN but only ninth among the Philippines’ 10 top sources of tourists, at 115,341 travelers. She noted that the Philippines has recovered “less than 50 percent” of the pre-pandemic tourist arrivals from China.

Source: Philippine Star January 24, 2026 16:32 UTC