DOT eyes ‘unified’ ASEAN visa system to boost tourist arrivals

Kimberly Capuyan

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco announced on July 31 that the Philippines wants to benefit from a unified visa system among member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“As early as the very first ASEAN meeting that I attended as Tourism Secretary, I expressed the Philippines’ desire to benefit from a unified ASEAN visa,” Frasco said in a statement.

“But of course, this is entirely up to the agreements of the nations. We maintain our stance in terms of desiring an ASEAN visa without compromising national security,” she added.

Frasco affirmed that the Department of Tourism (DOT) will support the efforts to establish this unified visa system, which she previously endorsed during the Skift Asia Forum held in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 15.

In her previous statement, Frasco said the proposed ASEAN visa supports the region’s push for unified tourism branding and is something she strongly advocates.

She also noted that it is similar to the Schengen visa in Europe and the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) joint visa in the Middle East.

“The Asean tagline is ‘A Destination for Every Dream,’ and the Asean visa certainly is part of that dream. To be able to unify the Asean as a destination in terms of the strength of its natural assets, its unparalleled warmth and hospitality as a people, and as a culture,” Frasco said.

Frasco expressed that the Philippines is “very hopeful” the proposal will be reconsidered when Manila hosts the Asean Summit in 2026.

“The Philippines’ hosting of the ASEAN in 2026 will be a very big boost to tourism for the country,” Frasco said.

“And on the side of the Department of Tourism, we are very excited that the very first Asean meetings will be about tourism, with the Asean Tourism Forum slated to be held at the end of January 2026,” she added.

The Philippines took over the ASEAN chairmanship in 2026 after Myanmar formally expressed its renunciation.

Manila last hosted the regional bloc’s summit in 2017 during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.