The Philippines, through Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, urged deeper regional cooperation to manage the expanding Asian cruise market during the Asia Cruise Cooperation (ACC) Annual Regional Meeting on Monday, December 15.
The ACC, an alliance including the Philippines, Hong Kong, South Korea, and parts of China (Taiwan, Hainan, Xiamen), serves as a platform for coordinating itineraries and sharing vital market intelligence.
Frasco emphasized that for cruise tourism growth to be robust, sustainable, and inclusive, collaboration among destinations, ports, and cruise lines is essential.
She stressed the core lesson of the ACC: “no destination succeeds alone,” and affirmed the Philippines’ commitment to working with cruise lines on itinerary development and aligning the full visitor experience, with sustainability as the central focus.
The Tourism Chief highlighted the Philippines’ recent policy and infrastructure gains, including the issuance of nearly 7,000 waivers under the Cruise Visa Waiver Program to ease entry.
Port readiness is also advancing with a completed terminal in Surigao del Norte and construction underway in Coron, Aklan, Camiguin, and Puerto Galera.
Furthermore, the Cruise Tourism Development Committee will be reconstituted in January 2026 to enhance inter-agency coordination.
These efforts are supporting a recovery: the Philippines has 136 cruise calls scheduled as of November 20, projecting 43,369 sea arrivals—a 26.85 percent increase.
Manila leads as the main cruise gateway, followed by Puerto Princesa and Boracay.
Frasco concluded that the country’s appeal rests on its high-quality offerings, from its World’s Leading Dive Destination status to its rich cultural heritage.
She affirmed that for the Philippines, cruise tourism is about the entire experience—the jobs created, the businesses sustained, and the communities empowered—not just arrival numbers.
