The governments of the Philippines and Thailand have signed a five-year tourism agreement aimed at enhancing mutual growth in their tourism sectors.

Philippine tourism secretary Christina Frasco and Thai minister of tourism and sports Sorawong Thienthong signed the Implementation Programme of the Agreement on Cooperation on Tourism in Johor, Malaysia during this year’s ASEAN Tourism Forum.

This agreement follows an original pact established back on March 24, 1993 in Manila. The new programme will operate from 2025 to 2030, focusing on tourism cooperation, sharing best practices, developing human resources, and conducting joint promotions and marketing activities.

Frasco mentioned the potential for the Philippines to learn from Thailand’s successful cultural and medical tourism strategies. She noted:

“In return, Thailand stands to gain from the Philippine expertise in hospitality, where we have earned a reputation for excellence. The Philippines is also a top destination for dive tourism and has renowned English language schools that attract global students.”

For his part, Thienthong expressed eagerness to work together with the Philippines to exchange knowledge and technological advancements.