Cambodia opened the ASEAN Tourism Forum yesterday, with meetings between the region's national tourism organizations and the private sector looking for ways to provide a boost to the ailing sector, officials said.
Some 1,500 participants were expected to arrive in Phnom Penh throughout the week for the Jan. 20-through-Jan. 28 forum, with ASEAN and ASEAN+3 tourism ministers arriving on Jan. 23 for the main day of meetings the following day, officials said.
The meetings are expected to center around details of the ASEAN Tourism Agreement, which was signed at the ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh last November.
"The forum is very important for the promotion and development of ASEAN tourism, as well as Cambodian tourism," said Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister and ASEAN Tourism Forum Committee Chairman, in a statement.
"Cambodia strongly believes that the Cambodian tourism industry, which is a priority to restore the national economy, will progress through this forum," he said. "This industry will integrate developing countries and restore people's living conditions."
In the November agreement, ASEAN members addressed the crucial role heightened security will play in the tourism industry, which drew some 41 million visitors to ASEAN nations last year, and vowed to strengthen cooperation among national law enforcement agencies.
The tourism accord also aimed to entice more travelers outside the region to visit and travelers within the region to cross borders by offering visa exemptions for some ASEAN nationals.
Hotel, travel agent and airline associations will hold discussions, Tourism Ministry Secretary of State Thong Khon said.
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