Cebu City, 27 January 2026 – At its first major multilateral meeting of 2026, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reaffirmed its commitment to deepen cooperation with the Russian Federation, spotlighting efforts to promote frictionless travel, tourism recovery and people-to-people links amid an ever-shifting global landscape.
During the 16th ASEAN-Russia Tourism Consultation held in Cebu City, Philippines, officials from ASEAN’s 10 member states and Russian counterparts discussed practical measures to strengthen travel connectivity and support a resilient tourism sector. The consultations took place under the ASEAN chairship of the Philippines, which has been steering the bloc’s agenda for early-year engagements.
Frictionless Travel and Tourism Recovery
ASEAN delegates emphasised the importance of creating a “seamless travel” environment that would encourage cross-border movement and rebuild confidence among travellers. Tourism Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso described Russia as a “long-standing partner” in people-to-people exchanges and stressed that sustained collaboration could catalyse tourism growth across the region, even in the face of external disruptions.
Officials identified workforce development, safety protocols and digital marketing strategies as focal areas to bolster tourism services and enhance accessibility for travellers between ASEAN nations and Russia. The consultations also touched on sharing travel-related data and best practices to inform future cooperation frameworks.
Closer Ties and Mutual Economic Benefits
Representing the Russian side, Igor Maksimov, Deputy Director at the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, highlighted strong momentum in tourism recovery. He noted that visitor flow between Russia and ASEAN has climbed to approximately 93% of pre-pandemic levels, with continued growth expected if cooperative efforts are maintained. Maksimov endorsed a new joint work plan through 2030 aimed at reinforcing commercially beneficial partnerships.
ASEAN’s engagement with Russia builds on a dialogue partnership established in 1996, with economic collaboration mechanisms evolving over more than two decades. Trade and investment relations have been supported historically through working groups and bilateral talks, even as both sides explore new areas such as digital economy linkages and tourism facilitation.
Strategic Outlook for ASEAN Connectivity
The outcome of this meeting forms part of a broader suite of ASEAN-related talks held this week in Cebu City, where officials are also addressing tourism cooperation with other partners and discussing ways to boost integration and sector resilience.
For ASEAN economies heavily reliant on tourism and services, streamlining travel protocols with Russia, one of its longstanding dialogue partners, could yield measurable benefits by expanding international visitor flows and reinforcing confidence in cross-border mobility frameworks.
