The 2023 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) is expected to provide policy recommendations for encouraging economic growth in the ASEAN region through tourism, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno has said.
“In the post-pandemic era, the tourism sector has undergone changes from ‘quantity basis’ to ‘quality basis,’” he noted during a breakfast meeting initiated by the US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) as an ASEAN strategic partner here on Saturday.
Moreover, cleanliness, health, security, and environmental preservation have become important issues for tourists, he added.
While future challenges are becoming more complex, he said he believes that the discussion during the ATF’s ministerial-level meetings will provide policy recommendations that would bring tourism issues into the post-pandemic economic recovery plan.
The policy recommendations are also expected to strengthen the tourism sector in facing global challenges.
The breakfast meeting was the first part of a series of ASEAN meeting agendas held at the ministerial level in Yogyakarta.
It was attended by ASEAN member countries and partner countries such as ASEAN Plus Three, India, Russia, ASEAN NTOs (National Tourism Organisations), and US-ABC members.
During the event, Uno lauded US-ABC for collaborating with his ministry for the development of the travel industry, tourism industry, and creative industry through a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
He also expressed his appreciation to the US-ABC for its support and contribution to the 2023 ATF.
The presence of Michael Walter Michalak, senior vice president and regional managing director of US-ABC, at the 2023 ATF shows how important ASEAN is as the engine of the world economy, he said.
Michalak expressed his happiness over the chance to work with ASEAN governments to revive and strengthen the tourism industry in the future.
The breakfast meeting will be followed by additional activities such as the minister business luncheon by CNN, Lao Night, a post-meeting tour for VIP delegations, ASEAN Awarding Ceremony, and Global Modest Fashion Week.
