MANILA / KUALA LUMPUR — 19 February 2026 — The Republic of the Philippines has been identified as one of the slowest recovering tourism destinations in the ASEAN region, with intra-regional visitor numbers lagging significantly behind most Southeast Asian neighbours, according to the latest data from the ASEAN Statistics Division Read more…
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening cooperation with the Russian Federation, with a specific focus on expanding collaboration and enhancing seamless travel arrangements between the two sides. The call came during ASEAN’s first major engagement of 2026, where ministers and senior officials emphasised Read more…
Community-based tourism (CoBT) operators in Sabah are undertaking strategic upskilling and service enhancements to align with evolving regional expectations and ASEAN Tourism Standards, Sabah Tourism Board (STB) officials and industry stakeholders confirmed this week. (Travel And Tour World) The drive comes as part of Sabah’s broader commitment to enhance tourism Read more…
The Thai tourism industry is entering a critical phase of recalibration, as recent data highlight shifts in visitor flows, rising competition and evolving traveller preferences. Against this backdrop, Thailand is launching refreshed strategies to sustain growth, prioritise quality over volume, and reaffirm its role as a leading travel destination in Read more…
Recent satellite imagery and analysis reveal that Vietnam’s aggressive expansion of artificial island construction within the Spratly Islands is rapidly reshaping the strategic landscape of the South China Sea—and puts ASEAN’s cohesion under unprecedented pressure. Key Developments Implications for ASEAN Vietnam’s actions raise complex strategic and diplomatic challenges for ASEAN: Read more…
The Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) has outlined a bold vision to future-proof ASEAN’s Blue Economy by integrating four critical areas of focus: conserving and restoring mangrove habitats, scaling up offshore wind production, decarbonising international shipping, and boosting sustainable ocean-based protein supply. Speaking at the seminar “Jointly Building a New Read more…
Vietnam and Laos have been named Southeast Asia’s top budget-friendly travel destinations by UK-based lifestyle publication Time Out, offering travelers a rich blend of culture, cuisine, and comfort at remarkably low costs. In Time Out’s latest ranking of affordable travel destinations, Laos secured the top spot, followed closely by Vietnam. Read more…
In a landmark move to deepen regional integration and boost economic ties, India and ASEAN have officially declared 2025 as the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism, ushering in a new era of cross-border travel, cultural exchange, and sustainable tourism development. Held in Johor, Malaysia, the 12th ASEAN-India Tourism Ministers Meeting (M-ATM Read more…
Vista, the world’s leading private aviation group and parent company of VistaJet and XO, convened an exclusive panel in Singapore to explore the evolving aspirations of Southeast Asia’s ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs). The invitation-only event brought together influential voices from across the region’s luxury ecosystem to decode the shifting values driving Read more…
Vietnam’s tourism industry continues its remarkable resurgence, welcoming over 9.2 million international visitors in the first five months of 2025—an impressive 21.3% increase compared to the same period last year. Surging Visitor Numbers & Record-Breaking Arrivals May alone saw a record-breaking 1.53 million foreign arrivals, marking the highest May figure Read more…
