IN a strategic effort to enhance tourism ties between the Philippines and Malaysia, Philippine Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco engaged in a bilateral meeting with Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2025. This brief yet productive meeting centered on exploring mutual strategies to bolster tourism relations between the two nations.
During the discussions, Secretary Frasco proposed the signing of a cooperation agreement on tourism. This agreement is designed to stimulate travel facilitation by simplifying travel processes and increasing two-way tourism between the countries.
It also aims to facilitate the exchange of information, best practices in product and market development, and tourism promotion strategies. A key focus is enhancing business tourism, encompassing meetings, incentives, conferences/conventions, and exhibitions (M.I.C.E), and promoting tourism investment and infrastructure development.
The proposed agreement emphasizes the importance of promoting sustainable tourism and committing to practices that ensure environmental and social sustainability. Additionally, it seeks to advance Muslim Friendly and Halal Tourism by developing infrastructures, facilities, products, and services that align with these concepts.
The agreement also highlights the need for tourism-related research, manpower training, capacity building, and exchange programs to enhance industry skills and knowledge. Furthermore, it aims to facilitate industry collaborations by establishing connections and fostering partnerships among travel industry stakeholders in both countries.
This initiative underscores the commitment of both nations to deepen their tourism partnership, creating opportunities for cultural exchange, economic growth, and sustainable development in the sector. The proposed agreement is anticipated to pave the way for enhanced collaboration in tourism between the Philippines and Malaysia.
Editor’s Note: This article has been sourced from the Philippines Department of Tourism Facebook Page.
