The evening was kicked off with opening remarks by Eddy Krismeidi Soemawilaga, President of the ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA), who welcomed dignitaries, award recipients, and industry stakeholders to the ceremony. In his address, Soemawilaga reflected on the significance of the awards, which have been a benchmark for quality and leadership in ASEAN tourism for over three decades. The event’s timing in Cebu made it even more special, as it allowed the industry to come together to showcase the achievements that have shaped the region’s tourism landscape.
A Historic Celebration of ASEAN Tourism Excellence
The ASEANTA Tourism Excellence Awards is a hallmark of ASEAN’s commitment to fostering sustainable, innovative, and collaborative growth in tourism. For 35 years, these awards have celebrated outstanding achievements in the region, honouring individuals, organizations and initiatives that embody the values of quality, responsibility, and positive impact. The awards serve as a key driver for setting shared standards of excellence, encouraging the adoption of best practices, and strengthening ASEAN’s position as a global leader in tourism.
In his opening speech, Soemawilaga emphasized the importance of the ASEANTA Tourism Excellence Awards as more than just an annual ceremony. He described them as a platform for regional collaboration that recognizes innovation and responsibility in tourism. He expressed his deep gratitude to the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines and the Department of Tourism of the Philippines for their unwavering support in hosting this year’s event.
Soemawilaga also
took a moment to express appreciation for the partnership with Dr. Mariegel Tamkiang-Manotok and the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), whose
contribution to the awards has been invaluable. The collaboration with
the Ministry of Tourism Indonesia and the ASEAN Secretariat further strengthened the
credibility and regional relevance of the ASEANTA Awards, underscoring their
role as a platform owned by ASEAN, for ASEAN.
A Platform for Excellence, Innovation, and Sustainability
The 35th ASEANTA Tourism Excellence Awards recognised excellence across a variety of categories, including sustainability, cultural preservation, marketing innovation, eco-tourism, hospitality, and world-class visitor experiences. The awardees were selected through a transparent, merit-based evaluation process, ensuring that only the most deserving individuals and initiatives were celebrated.
One of the key
objectives of the ASEANTA Tourism Excellence Awards is to highlight initiatives
that demonstrate measurable impact. Soemawilaga
noted that the awards are not only about celebrating success but
also about inspiring others to adopt
innovative solutions that lead to more sustainable and inclusive growth in the region’s tourism industry.
He expressed that excellence in tourism is not
only about numbers but about the quality of
experiences and the positive impact they
have on local communities and the environment.
This year’s awardees have shown remarkable commitment to environmental sustainability and cultural preservation, with many incorporating eco-friendly practices and promoting responsible tourism. Their achievements serve as a model for others in the region, encouraging the replication of best practices across ASEAN.
ASEANTA’s Three Key Objectives for ASEAN Tourism
ASEANTA, through the Tourism Excellence Awards, seeks
to achieve three critical objectives that will help drive the future of ASEAN
tourism:
§
Setting Shared
Standards of Excellence: Recognizing
initiatives that demonstrate measurable impact, innovation, and responsibility
in tourism.
§
Encouraging
Replication of Best Practices: Facilitating
the adaptation of successful models across different ASEAN destinations.
§
Strengthening
ASEAN’s Global Positioning: Ensuring ASEAN
becomes a diverse, competitive, and sustainable tourism
region.
In alignment
with these goals, ASEANTA aims to foster an environment where collaboration
among governments, National Tourism Organizations, industry partners, and regional
institutions leads to inclusive, resilient, and sustainable tourism growth.
The recognition of these best practices at the ASEANTA Awards underscores the
region’s shared commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), making ASEAN a model for global tourism.
Sustainability and Innovation at the Heart of ASEAN Tourism
This year’s
winners are a testament to how innovation, sustainability, and cultural preservation are
at the core of ASEAN’s tourism strategy. From cutting-edge marketing
campaigns to eco-friendly hospitality
initiatives, the awardees have shown that tourism excellence is about adapting to global trends, embracing digital transformation, and addressing the environmental challenges facing the tourism
sector.
As ASEAN
continues to navigate the future of tourism, initiatives like the ASEANTA Tourism Excellence Awards are crucial in
setting the benchmark for excellence and
ensuring that the region maintains its competitive edge on
the global stage. These awards not only recognize individual
achievements but also celebrate the collective spirit of ASEAN cooperation, which is essential for
continued success in the tourism sector.
A Future of Resilient and Sustainable Growth
Looking ahead,
Soemawilaga highlighted the importance of the ASEAN Tourism Sectoral Plan,
which aims to translate regional strategy into actionable
goals and foster inclusive growth.
With ASEAN’s renewed focus on sustainable development, digitalization, and resilience, the
ASEANTA Awards will continue to be a guiding light for the region’s tourism
industry, inspiring a new generation of leaders, innovators, and change-makers.
As ASEAN moves
forward with a shared vision for tourism, the ASEANTA Tourism Excellence Awards
will remain an essential platform for recognising the best practices that will
shape the future of travel in ASEAN and
beyond. Through this continued collaboration, ASEAN is set to become the leading global destination for sustainable, inclusive, and innovative tourism.
Closing Remarks and Congratulations
In his closing
remarks, Soemawilaga extended his warmest congratulations to
the award recipients, thanking them for their dedication to excellence and sustainability. He
also thanked the partners, governments, and organizations that have made the
event possible and reaffirmed ASEANTA’s commitment to fostering collaboration and strengthening ASEAN tourism.
With the
official opening of the 35th ASEANTA Tourism Excellence
Awards, the region is poised to continue its legacy of leadership and excellence in tourism, setting the
stage for a bright future for ASEAN
tourism.
Tags: ASEAN Tourism Forum 2026 Cebu, Philippines, ASEANTA Tourism Excellence Awards
