The ongoing conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has not only created uncertainty for both countries but also raised troubling questions among tourism stakeholders in the Philippines.
“So what is the point of having a regional bloc meant to ensure that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations remain united and intact?” one industry player asked.
“What is the purpose of the regional bloc if countries still end up fighting over border disputes? ASEAN was created to promote peace, cooperation, and economic integration — yet here they are, at odds with one another,” the tourism stakeholder said.
A tourism player lamented that the border conflict has taken its toll on the ASEAN tourism industry, with some travel and tour agencies temporarily halting operations to Thailand and Cambodia due to the rift.
“We are affected. And yet, the ASEAN leaders are seemingly not doing anything,” according to the source.
News wires reported earlier this week, quoting Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, saying there was no space for diplomacy in the current conflict and that a peace deal “must come from Cambodians.”
The conflict stemmed from a long-running dispute over the colonial-era demarcation of their 800-kilometer (km) shared border.
Fighting has left at least 25 soldiers and civilians dead, and displaced over half a million people on both sides.
Moreover, the source told Nosy Tarsee that they are having difficulty getting vacationers from ASEAN member nations to visit the Philippines, as the efforts are one-way.
“We are asking for reciprocity of our efforts. We bring Filipinos to other ASEAN countries through our customized packages, yet our ASEAN partners are not reciprocating. How can we sell our astounding sites to them? We mean business, of course,” she lamented.
Foreign tourist arrivals to the Philippines reached 4,769,871 in the first 11 months of 2025, marking a 3.02 percent year-on-year decline, largely due to a sharp drop in visitors from South Korea and China.
Arrivals from other key markets continued to grow, with the United States — now the second-largest source — posting a 6.57 percent year-on-year increase to 894,835 visitors through November. Japan ranks third, up 15.36 percent to 406,794, and Australia ranks fourth, up 16.17 percent to 268,892.
No ASEAN member state ranked in the top five for tourist arrivals.