The 9th Meeting of ASEAN and India Tourism Ministers

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism,
 Mr. Doan Van Viet (middle) led Vietnam
delegation attended the meeting

On 19 January, in the framework of ATF 2022, the 9th Meeting of ASEAN and India Tourism Ministers was organized in Cambodia.

Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, the Southeast Asia region continued to be a major source market for inbound tourism into India. India received 33,864 visitor arrivals from the ASEAN member countries in 2021. Approximately 1.34 million Indians travelled to ASEAN countries in the year 2021.

Although progress had been restrained due to the pandemic situation, the meeting was pleased to note the relevant updates pertaining to the implementation of the ASEAN-India Tourism Work Plan 2021-2022 in following key dimensions that were discussed throughout ASEAN-India Tourism Working Group Meeting in 2021: Sharing of best practices for the development of responsible and/or sustainable tourism; Sharing resources and facilities to provide mutual assistance in tourism education and training for quality tourism development; Crisis communications to protect the reputation and credibility of the relevant tourism organisations and/or tourist destinations, particularly through the establishment of the ASEAN-India Crisis Communications Team; Exchange information pertaining to statistics and development strategies, investment opportunities and economic data; Develop Quality Tourism and Standard to encourage the enhancement and/or development of tourism standards in ASEAN and India with a post COVID-19 outlook; and activity under the ASEAN Promotional Chapter for Tourism (APCT) India.

At the meeting, countries acknowledged that tourism investments are key to advancing prosperity, development and alleviating poverty. In view of this, the meeting also underscored the need to deepen and broaden mutually-beneficial and robust partnerships in light of not only accelerating tourism recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic but also making such partnerships stronger and support a more resilient tourism sector.

The meeting also recognised the importance of digital technologies in bridging the community amid social restrictions and community quarantine measures. The meeting acknowledged that the pandemic has accelerated the process of digitalisation, with the adoption of digital solutions no longer optional but necessary. In this regard, the Meeting underscored the importance to explore ways forward to utilise digital technology reducing digital divide by facilitating access to information and communication technologies as well as the skills to thrive in the digital economy in ASEAN and India.

Especially, in order to commemorate the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations, the meeting agreed the designation of 2022 as the “ASEAN-India Friendship Year” and looked forward for the development of relevant programmes and activities to celebrate this milestone.

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Tags: Meeting of ASEAN and India Tourism Ministers, ATF 2022,

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