ASEAN Tourism Ministers Advance Regional Tourism Investment and Resilience Agenda
ASEAN tourism ministers convened in Manila on September 29 for the Second ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Retreat and inaugural ASEAN Tourism Investment Showcase, advancing efforts to strengthen regional tourism investment, resilience, and connectivity. Ministers highlighted the sector’s vulnerability to geopolitical tensions, energy-price volatility, and climate-related disruptions, calling for stronger disaster preparedness and business continuity planning. They also agreed to promote intra-ASEAN travel and secondary destinations, while reviewing the 2002 ASEAN Tourism Agreement to better reflect digitalization, sustainability, and changing travel patterns.
A central initiative is the ASEAN Sustainable and Resilient Tourism Investment Outlook 2030, being developed with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is to identify priority investment opportunities and build a pipeline of investment-ready tourism projects. At the Showcase, the Philippines promoted Corregidor Island as a pilot development destination, while Laos presented opportunities in Feuang and Pathoumphone districts. ADB officials noted that insufficient project preparation, rather than unavailable capital, remains a significant barrier to attracting private investment. Ministers also welcomed a Philippines-led proposal for an ASEAN Tourism Intelligence System, including a regional data dashboard to support evidence-based policymaking. Together, the initiatives seek to improve tourism infrastructure, mobilize private investment, and strengthen the region’s competitiveness and resilience amid evolving travel demand.