(TITC) – In the framework of ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2019, on 15 January 2019, the 21st ASEAN-India Tourism Working Group Meeting kicks off in Ha Long City, Viet Nam, under the chairmanship of Viet Nam and India.
The meeting was attended by representatives from ASEAN-Indian NTOs, ASEAN Secretariats, international organizations…
In his opening remark, Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh – Chairman of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, emphasized that the 21st ASEAN-India Tourism Working Group Meeting was a significant opportunity for ASEAN member states and India to tighten collaboration in tourism field.
The tourism cooperation between ASEAN member states and India is moving ahead with effective activities. ASEAN tourism has received supports through promotional activities, technical assistances, training workshops… These tourism collaborations should be continuously enhanced among all ASEAN member states and India as well as deepening the relationship and economic joint development in the forthcoming years.
At the meeting, ASEAN Secretariat summarized the tourism-related outcomes of the ASEAN-India Informal Breakfast Summit that was held on 15 November 2018 in Singapore. Regarding the implementation of ASEAN-India Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening tourism cooperation, the delagates focused on discussing issues as sharing best practices in responsible and sustainable tourism development; mutual assistance in tourism training for quality tourism development; crisis communications to protect the reputation and credibility of relevant tourism organisations and tourist destination; exchange of information in statistics and development strategies, investment opportunities and economic data; implementation of ASEAN Promotional Chapter for tourism activities in 2019; and new ASEAN-India tourism activities in 2019, including the ASEAN-India Tourism Cooperation Year 2019.
In addition, the meeting also verified the figures of the ASEAN-India international visitor arrivals in 2017 and 2018 based on submissions by ASEAN member states and India. Total visitor arrivals from ASEAN to India in 2018 reached approximately 700,000. The total Indian tourists coming to ASEAN in the last five years have also recorded a constant growth, with around 2.9 million arrivals in 2013 to about 4 million in 2018 (up nearly 7% over the previous year).
Viet Nam updated the preparation for the 7th ASEAN-India Tourism Ministers Meeting to be held on 18 January 2019 in Ha Long City, Viet Nam. The meeting considered the draft Agenda and Joint Media Statement of the 7th ASEAN-India Tourism Ministers Meeting.
The 22nd ASEAN-India Tourism Working Group Meeting is scheduled to be held in Cambodia.
Hong Nhung