Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco (left) serves as one of the speakers during the SKIFT Asia Forum 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday (May 15, 2025). During the forum, Frasco expressed support for the proposed creation of a unified ASEAN visa, inspired by the European Schengen visa and the Gulf Cooperation Council's joint visa. - Photo: DOT
MANILA: (Bernama-PNA) The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) has expressed strong support for the creation of a unified Asean visa, saying it could help position the region as a single, powerhouse tourism destination.
According to the Philippine News Agency (PNA), Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco made the statement during the SKIFT Asia Forum 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand last Thursday, where she served as one of the key speakers.
The proposal, inspired by the European Schengen visa and the Gulf Cooperation Council's joint visa, is gaining traction among member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
"The Asean tagline is ‘A destination for every dream.’ And the Asean visa certainly is part of that dream,” Frasco said, as quoted in a DOT news release on Sunday (May 18).
"To be able to unify the Asean as a destination... is one that is aspirational for us in the Philippines.”
She bared that there’s "similar interest” from other Southeast Asian nations about the unified visa system.
"We are very hopeful that the subject matter will again come up as the Philippines hosts the Asean in 2026,” she said.
The Tourism chief underscored the potential of enhanced regional cooperation despite existing competition among Asean countries.
"Competition is always very healthy, but collaboration is healthier in a sense that Asean coming together to work as a force for good for the world would really benefit all of our countries,” she said.
She cited the Philippines' partnership with Thailand as an example, pointing to the implementation of their "Two Countries, One Destination” campaign.
Frasco also highlighted the Philippines’ cultural and culinary diversity as key selling points to Asean tourists.
"What we bring to the table... is a story-a story of a proud people that is the result of generations of influence,” she said. "You arrive in the Philippines as a guest, but you leave as family.” - Bernama-PNA
