AKP Phnom Penh, February 04, 2021—

The ASEAN National Tourism Organisation has convened its 53th meeting to boost the region’s tourism investment as COVID-19 crisis is easing.

The meeting took place early this week through a video conference under the chairmanship of H.E. Thong Rathsak, Director General of Tourism Development and International Cooperation General Department of Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism.

Representatives from ASEAN Secretariat; the Ministries of Health, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Interior, Culture and Fine Arts, and Public Works and Transport; State Secretariat of Civil Aviation; CDC; the Centre for ASEAN-China-Japan-Korea; WTO; Associations of Asia-Pacific Travel; ASEAN Tourism and ASEAN Tourism Research; and ASEAN-U.S. Business Council -- Visa, Agoda, Google participated in the virtual meeting.

To boost tourism investment, the bloc will release a guidebook on investment on ASEAN tourism sector.

The meeting also discussed the ASEAN tourism marketing strategic plan for 2021-2025, the preparation of ASEAN tourism restoration plan after COVID-19 crisis, ASEAN MRA E-Learning, initiative to use digital system and AI to disseminate ASEAN tourism, and assurance of safe travels among ASEAN countries.

(Photo: Ministry of Tourism)

By Lim Nary