(KPL) ASEAN tourism ministers met in Chieng Mai, Thailand, for the 21st ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Meeting and related events including the 17th Meeting of ASEAN+Three (China, Japan, and Korea (ROK) Tourism Ministers, the 47th Meeting of ASEAN National Tourism Organisations, the 32nd ASEAN Plus Three Tourism Organisations’ Meeting, the 19th ASEAN-India Tourism Working Group, and the 8th ASEAN-Russian Federation Tourism Consultation.
Held under the theme “ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity, Boundless Prosperity”, the meeting provided tourism ministers from ASEAN member states an opportunity to exchange ideas and views to take regional and global travel and tourism sector development to the next level.
The ministers reviewed the implementation of programmes, tourism cooperation among ASEAN member states over the past one year and approved tourism cooperation plan for the next 2 years 2018-2019 along with two key documents including a declaration on culinary arts and tourism cooperation and a joint declaration on cruise tourism.
“Together with joined hands, we seek ways forward to widen and strengthen our existing tourism cooperation mechanisms with highest effectiveness in order to better facilitate tourism products development and further promote it more beneficially in the near future,” said Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Bosengkham Vongdara.
Laos highly values all hard works proceeded by ASEAN National Tourism Organisations and relevant official tourism committee for their great efforts in contributing and implementing various activities under the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Framework 2016-2020, as well as some achievements made through two-year Work Plan 2016-2017 including marketing, product development, tourism standards, tourism professionals, connectivity and infrastructure, sustainable and inclusive tourism along with the 50th ASEAN anniversary celebration campaign and other related activities, according to the minister.
The minister welcomed the outcomes of ASEAN National Tourism Organizations’ meeting to come up with the two-year work plan 2018-2019 of ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan 2016-2025, which has been thoroughly reviewed and agreed upon preparation meeting, particularly the Joint Declaration on Gastronomy and Tourism; and ASEAN Declaration on Cruise Tourism initiated by Thailand and Singapore, respectively.
As a result of closed cooperation among ASEAN member states, the movement of visitors into the region was greater than before. International tourist arrivals in ASEAN grew by 7% in 2016 consolidating the region as the most visited in Asia and the Pacific.
Despite the grew of tourism in the region, international tourism in Laos has faced a challenge with a decrease of 10% of tourist arrivals (4,2 million) and further 0,16% declined in receipts (US$724 million).
Nevertheless, the targeted markets from China, South Korea, Japan, and Germany remain increased.
The minister urged his ASEAN counterparts to enhance ASEAN’s appeal by upgrading quality of products and services, development of tourism standards, travel facilitation, and human resources development.
KPL
