MoHT Union Minister attends 40th ASEAN tourism forum, ASEAN tourism ministers’ meeting and related meetings in Cambodia

The 40th ASEAN Tourism Forum 2022 and the ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Meeting hosted by Cambodia under the theme “ASEAN- A Community of Peace and Shared Future”, related meetings and events were held at the Sokha Resort Hotel in Prishanu, Cambodia from 17 to 20 January and attended by a delegation led by Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism Dr Htay Aung.
At the meeting with Tourism Minister of Cambodia Dr Thong Khon and officials on 18 January, the Union Minister discussed the renewal of the Action Plan on Tourism Cooperation 2017-2020 between the two countries, including direct flights between Siem Reap and Bagan as per the action plan; human resource development for ecotourism and community-based tourism; matters to recognize internationally the combination of the Enchanting Myanmar Health & Safety Protocol implemented by Myanmar and the ASEAN Guidelines for Hygiene and Safety; joint tourism marketing in the post-COVID-19 period.
The Union Minister attended the tree planting ceremony of ASEAN Ministers in commemoration of the ASEAN Tourism Forum-2022 in the afternoon, the opening ceremony of the forum and the welcoming dinner of the Prime Minister of Cambodia in the evening.
At the opening ceremony, Prime Minister of Cambodia Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen said it is necessary to be united and openly cooperate between the ASEAN countries, partner countries and international organizations in addressing regional and global challenges, and therefore, Cambodia led the drafting and implementation of the Phnom Penh Declaration on a More Sustainable, Inclusive ASEAN Tourism, and the ASEAN regional tourism revitalization plan in the post-COVID-19 period.
The Union minister also attended the 25th ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, 21st ASEAN+3 (China, Japan, Korea) Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, 9th ASEAN + India Tourism Ministers Meeting, 1st ASEAN-Russia Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, and meetings with ASEAN partner organizations. The meeting discussed the decline of international tourists in the ASEAN region in 2021, which was 90 per cent down compared to 2020, post-COVID-19 ASEAN tourism rehabilitation programme, completion of ASEAN Tourism Safety Regulations and further implementation of the ASEAN Safe Travel Stamp, implementation of the guidelines approved by the ASEAN Summits. The meeting also approved the implementation of the ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework with the inclusion of tourists in addition to the essential business and official travellers, and to review the challenges and opportunities facing the implementation of the ASEAN Tourism Professionals Mutual Recognition Programme.
The Union minister also attended the press conference of the ASEAN Tourism Ministers, the ASEAN Tourism Award Ceremony, and the launching ceremony of the ASEAN Tourism Logo and ASEAN Tourism Promotion TV in commemoration of the ASEAN Tourism Resumption. —MNA