Laos ASEAN tourism forum hosts global leaders
MINISTER of Tourism Sok Soken led a delegation from the authority to attend the 2024 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), the 27th Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers (M-ATM) and related forums from January 23-27 in Vientiane, Laos, at the invitation of his Lao counterpart Suanesavanh Vignaket.
The forum is organised under the theme “Quality and Responsible Tourism – Sustaining ASEAN Future”.
It is being attended by tourism ministers and leaders from the bloc’s member countries, as well as China, Japan, South Korea, India and other partner countries and organisations, according to a January 23 notice from the ministry.
“At the ASEAN Tourism Forum, minister Soken is participating in the 27th ASEAN, ASEAN+3 and ASEANIndia Tourism Ministers Meetings, as well as discussions with relevant partner countries and organisations,” said the ministry.
Soken is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with individual ASEAN member countries and partner organisations to strengthen cooperation in the development of ASEAN and Cambodian tourism.
He is expected to present the ministry’s strategic initiative to transform Cambodia into a vibrant, competitive, sustainable and inclusive tourism destination.
The ministry said its five strategic pillars, termed “BUILD”, along with three supporting components, known as the “3Ds”, were set to guide the country’s tourism development and provide a shared direction for developing the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan.
Cambodia is also expected to receive numerous ASEAN tourism awards at the gathering.
The ministry said that in collaboration with the private sector, it would participate in the Travel Exchange (TRAVEX), expecting the attendance of 750 delegates, 50 media representatives and the organisation of 200 booths, involving 200 sellers and 200 buyers.
Thuon Sinan, president of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Cambodia chapter, noted on January 24 that the forum is a governmentsponsored event organised by ASEAN member countries, encompassing three meetings.
He detailed that the first was the M-ATM focusing on ASEAN cooperation and tourism-related policies; the second involves interaction between buyers and sellers from the private sector, including the participation of the National Tourist Organisation (NTO); and the third meeting will be a press conference aimed at promoting new tourist destinations globally.
“For me, the forum is a positive event that the government and stakeholders should continue to participate in, updating and interacting within the ASEAN framework. Cambodia has never been absent from the event. We organised it in 2022 and 2023 in Indonesia, and in 2024, it’s being held in Laos,” Sinan said.