The Philippines has been reinstated as the vice-president of the 26th General Assembly of the United Nations Tourism and will chair the Commission for East Asia and the Pacific from 2025 to 2027. The Department of Tourism (DOT) announced this decision on the evening of April 15th.

During a press conference held alongside the 56th Meeting of the UN Tourism CAP in Jakarta, Indonesia, DOT Secretary Christina Frasco expressed gratitude to the member states of the UN Tourism for their support, emphasizing Manila’s commitment to fostering stronger collaboration within the organization.

With this reelection, the Philippines aims to enhance its involvement in global tourism cooperation and diplomatic efforts. Previously, the country occupied similar roles during the 55th Meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for East Asia and the Pacific in Cambodia in 2023.

In 2024, the Philippines successfully organized the 36th CAP – Commission for South Asia, alongside the inaugural UN Tourism Regional Forum for Gastronomy Tourism, featuring over 600 delegates from more than 40 nations in Cebu.

Japan and Fiji have also submitted their candidacies for vice-chair positions in the Commission, and Laos has been nominated as a member of the Credentials Committee. For specialized committees, South Korea has been proposed for the Committee on Tourism Online Education.

Commitment to Improvement

Frasco noted that the Philippine tourism agenda aligns with the goals of UN Tourism, particularly in enhancing tourism education and promoting innovation and digitalization within the sector.

“In the Philippines, these topics resonate well with our focus on developing quality tourism that prioritizes stakeholder benefits from the tourism activities conducted in our territories,” said Frasco.

She added that the Philippines is enthusiastic about collaborating with regional partners to maximize tourism potential while ensuring the sustainability of key destinations for future generations.

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili acknowledged the Philippines’ continued leadership in regional tourism, complementing the country’s successful hosting of UN meetings last year. He underscored the need for investments in job creation and education, reaffirming UN Tourism’s commitment to establishing a Tourism Academy in Cebu.