Organizers gearing up for ASEAN Tourism Forum in the Philippines

The Philippines, one of 11 nations in the ASEAN collective of countries in South East Asia, is now preparing to host the 2026 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) on the island of Cebu.

The ATF will bring together a mix of national tourism ministers, national tourism organizations (NTOs), tourism product exhibitors, international product buyers and media. They will attend both the TRAVEX travel trade marketplace and a series of conference presentations focusing on new tourism assets in each of the 11 countries.

The member nations are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam. Delegates will assemble on the small resort island of Mactan, a short drive from the main island of Cebu and Cebu City, for this 45th annual ATF, which will run from Jan. 27 to Feb. 4. There, ATF 2026 will continue a tradition of promoting ASEAN as one united tourism destination.

The three-day TRAVEX will take place Jan. 28 to Jan. 30, and will feature a program of networking opportunities and cultural experiences. At the show, exhibitors and buyers will meet for one-to-one business appointments, all of which can be scheduled prior to arrival in Mactan, optimizing efficiency and engagement. Delegates can also choose to participate in five pre-show tours and/or eight post-show tours, allowing them to explore Philippines destinations ranging from pristine beaches and island resorts to cultural and heritage sites.

Part of the schedule has been set aside for the ASEAN tourism conference, a platform for regional and international experts to discuss key tourism trends, challenges and opportunities.

The conference aims to strengthen cooperation among ASEAN’s public and private sector stakeholders while inspiring innovative and sustainable approaches to tourism development.

“ATF TRAVEX continues to be a vital platform for building connections and driving growth across ASEAN,” said Darren Ng, managing director of TTG Asia Media. Each year, the hosting of ATF rotates alphabetically amongst the member countries.

#ATFPhilippines2026 #VisitSEAsia

PHOTO CAPTIONS

TOP 

The Mayon volcano near Legazpi in the Philippines is still very active and erupts periodically.

MIDDLE 

Another sultry sunset from a beach on Boracay in the Philippines.