The Philippines’ hosting of the Second Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Ministers’ Meeting put the spotlight on the importance of tourism and trade in fostering stronger ties within the region.
“Our meetings, dialogues, agreements, and bilateral talks have reaffirmed that ASEAN does not rely on isolated journeys, but on positioning the region as a single, unified tourism destination,” Philippine Department of Tourism Secretary Bernardita Angara-Mathay said in a speech before tourism leaders from the region on Tuesday (September 29).
A glimpse of shared history
Set against the backdrop of the Philippines’ maritime past, ASEAN tourism leaders and delegates experienced a one-of-a-kind destination at Museo del Galeón, the Philippines’ first immersive maritime heritage museum.
Philippine Department of Tourism Secretary Bernardita Angara-Mathay
From ancient maritime traditions to the Manila–Acapulco Galleon Trade, the newly opened museum places the Philippines at the crossroads of cultures and global exchange.
For Secretary Angara-Mathay, the special guided visit of the ASEAN delegates at the museum showcased the region’s true strength, world-class destinations, rich heritage, vibrant culture, and gastronomy. But for her, still, ASEAN’s greatest asset will always be its people.
The Philippines is globally known for its warmth and hospitality, characteristics that define the country as a top-of-mind destination beyond its sun and beach offerings.
“When we showcase Southeast Asia to the world, our shared waters, distinct traditions, and warm hospitality, we create an unforgettable, unified experience for every traveler around the world,” she added.
Further, at the heart of the experience is the Galeón Espíritu Santo, a full-scale representation of a 17th-century galleon where delegates can step inside and explore. Through immersive galleries, interactive experiences, and compelling stories of travel and trade, the Museo del Galeón stands as one of the country’s slices of rich history.
“For centuries, the Manila Galleon trade and our ancient maritime routes served as early highways of exchange, weaving together our cultures, communities, and civilizations. Today, that profound legacy gives deeper meaning to the Philippine ASEAN Chairship, as we Navigate Our Tourism Future Together. In tourism, navigation requires three essential elements: a clear understanding of where we have been, the present we share today, and a compass guiding our direction as we build and develop our collective future,” the tourism Chief noted.
Part of the hosting included treating the ASEAN tourism ministers and delegates to a vibrant cultural welcome. Guests were serenaded with performances by the Philippine Madrigal Singers, who performed songs in different ASEAN languages, alongside the University of the Philippines (UP) Symphony Orchestra and Kabataang Gitarista.
Another feature of the evening is the Filipino heritage dining experience rooted in flavor, comfort, and storytelling. Highlights of the menu included regional specialties such as inasal na isda, chicken adobo sa gata, ginataang sitaw at kalabasa, chicken binakol, a Filipino street food balut, kinilaw na tanigue, and pancit puti. For dessert, delegates enjoyed traditional Filipino sweet treats, including suman at tsokolate and halo-halo shooters.
Pushing for sustainable tourism and destination-led investment opportunities
Earlier, tourism leaders and investment experts convened for the inaugural ASEAN Tourism Investment Showcase (ATIS). This initiative is designed to present priority, investment-ready tourism projects in ASEAN member countries and to exchange perspectives on project readiness, key gaps, risk management, and the support requirements for these initiatives.
The high-level event forms part of the Philippines’ hosting of the Second ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Retreat (ATMR) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
Speaking before regional business leaders and investors during the first-ever regional investment showcase, DOT’s infrastructure and investment arm, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), took center stage to pitch Corregidor Island Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zone (FTEZ) as the Philippines’ pilot tourism investment project.
The island, a 546-hectare national historical shrine and tourism development zone, is directly managed and administered by the TIEZA in Cavite Province. It is structured into three primary development clusters: the Military Park, the Island Center, and the Leisure and Recreation Area.
Meanwhile, during the ministerial interventions at the showcase, ASEAN member states, including Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Timor-Leste, and the Philippines, provided strategic direction for their proposed destination-led investments, focusing on sustainable tourism, digital tourism, community-based tourism, and product diversification.
The investment showcase supports the ASEAN Sustainable and Resilient Tourism Investment Outlook 2030, one of the Philippines’ Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) under its 2026 ASEAN Chairship. Developed with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and anchored in the ASEAN Tourism Sectoral Plan (ATSP) 2026–2030, the Outlook provides a regional framework to identify tourism investment opportunities and build a priority project pipeline through 2030.
The Philippines’ hosting of the Second Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Ministers’ Meeting put the spotlight on the importance of tourism and trade in fostering stronger ties within the region.
“Our meetings, dialogues, agreements, and bilateral talks have reaffirmed that ASEAN does not rely on isolated journeys, but on positioning the region as a single, unified tourism destination,” Philippine Department of Tourism Secretary Bernardita Angara-Mathay said in a speech before tourism leaders from the region on Tuesday (September 29).
A glimpse of shared history
Set against the backdrop of the Philippines’ maritime past, ASEAN tourism leaders and delegates experienced a one-of-a-kind destination at Museo del Galeón, the Philippines’ first immersive maritime heritage museum.
From ancient maritime traditions to the Manila–Acapulco Galleon Trade, the newly opened museum places the Philippines at the crossroads of cultures and global exchange.
For Secretary Angara-Mathay, the special guided visit of the ASEAN delegates at the museum showcased the region’s true strength, world-class destinations, rich heritage, vibrant culture, and gastronomy. But for her, still, ASEAN’s greatest asset will always be its people.
The Philippines is globally known for its warmth and hospitality, characteristics that define the country as a top-of-mind destination beyond its sun and beach offerings.
“When we showcase Southeast Asia to the world, our shared waters, distinct traditions, and warm hospitality, we create an unforgettable, unified experience for every traveler around the world,” she added.
Further, at the heart of the experience is the Galeón Espíritu Santo, a full-scale representation of a 17th-century galleon where delegates can step inside and explore. Through immersive galleries, interactive experiences, and compelling stories of travel and trade, the Museo del Galeón stands as one of the country’s slices of rich history.
“For centuries, the Manila Galleon trade and our ancient maritime routes served as early highways of exchange, weaving together our cultures, communities, and civilizations. Today, that profound legacy gives deeper meaning to the Philippine ASEAN Chairship, as we Navigate Our Tourism Future Together. In tourism, navigation requires three essential elements: a clear understanding of where we have been, the present we share today, and a compass guiding our direction as we build and develop our collective future,” the tourism Chief noted.
Part of the hosting included treating the ASEAN tourism ministers and delegates to a vibrant cultural welcome. Guests were serenaded with performances by the Philippine Madrigal Singers, who performed songs in different ASEAN languages, alongside the University of the Philippines (UP) Symphony Orchestra and Kabataang Gitarista.
Another feature of the evening is the Filipino heritage dining experience rooted in flavor, comfort, and storytelling. Highlights of the menu included regional specialties such as inasal na isda, chicken adobo sa gata, ginataang sitaw at kalabasa, chicken binakol, a Filipino street food balut, kinilaw na tanigue, and pancit puti. For dessert, delegates enjoyed traditional Filipino sweet treats, including suman at tsokolate and halo-halo shooters.
Pushing for sustainable tourism and destination-led investment opportunities
Earlier, tourism leaders and investment experts convened for the inaugural ASEAN Tourism Investment Showcase (ATIS). This initiative is designed to present priority, investment-ready tourism projects in ASEAN member countries and to exchange perspectives on project readiness, key gaps, risk management, and the support requirements for these initiatives.
The high-level event forms part of the Philippines’ hosting of the Second ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Retreat (ATMR) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
Speaking before regional business leaders and investors during the first-ever regional investment showcase, DOT’s infrastructure and investment arm, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), took center stage to pitch Corregidor Island Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zone (FTEZ) as the Philippines’ pilot tourism investment project.
The island, a 546-hectare national historical shrine and tourism development zone, is directly managed and administered by the TIEZA in Cavite Province. It is structured into three primary development clusters: the Military Park, the Island Center, and the Leisure and Recreation Area.
Meanwhile, during the ministerial interventions at the showcase, ASEAN member states, including Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Timor-Leste, and the Philippines, provided strategic direction for their proposed destination-led investments, focusing on sustainable tourism, digital tourism, community-based tourism, and product diversification.
The investment showcase supports the ASEAN Sustainable and Resilient Tourism Investment Outlook 2030, one of the Philippines’ Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) under its 2026 ASEAN Chairship. Developed with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and anchored in the ASEAN Tourism Sectoral Plan (ATSP) 2026–2030, the Outlook provides a regional framework to identify tourism investment opportunities and build a priority project pipeline through 2030.
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