The interface meeting between ASEAN tourism ministers and ASEAN transport ministers takes place from the agreement of ASEAN Tourism Ministers on the importance of working closely with the Transport Sector at the 26th ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting taking place on 4th February 2023 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

The meeting taking place from the headquarter of the MOCST (Photo: TITC)

Giving his opening remark, H.E. Mr. Ngampasong Muongmani, Minister of Public Works and Transport of Lao DPR, said, the interface meeting aims to serve as a venue to forge a shared and common understanding of the respective roles of the sectoral bodies in regard to promoting and supporting ASEAN initiatives to accelerate economic recovery post-pandemic; exchange views on how the involved sectoral bodies could scale up cross-sectoral coordination and collaboration, and create a more systematic, integrative and coherent approach to advance the Pillar’s work, particularly in mitigating the pressing issues related to tourism and transport sectors post-pandemic; and provide the necessary high-level push and mandates for collective action to ensure effective implementation of initiatives under the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2016-2025 and ASEAN Transport Strategic Plan / Kuala Lumpur Transport Strategic Plan 2016-2025.

The Meeting exchanged views on the following topics: Areas of possible cooperation including ways to improve accessibility to priority destinations in order to further encourage intra-ASEAN travel; How Transport and Tourism can support travel facilitation, i.e. Intensify regional cooperation in the development of sustainable transport-related policies and strategies; and Scaling-up cross-sectoral coordination and collaboration through establishing an Ad-hoc Task Force consisting of representatives appointed by the ASEAN NTOs and the ASEAN STOM (ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting.

The meeting taking place in hybrid format in Luang Prabang, Laos (Photo: TITC)

Update on the recovery situation of Vietnam's aviation and shipping industry at the meeting, MOCST’s Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong said, in Vietnam, there are 64 foreign airlines and 5 Vietnamese airlines operating in the international market with over 169 international routes directly connecting to 28 countries and territories; together with modern international passenger sea ports capable of accommodating large ships with a capacity of up to 6,000 passengers. “We are actively improving the infrastructure of airports, sea ports, and enhancing the quality of tourist services. Simultaneously, we are investing in the construction of new international airports and seaports in some key tourist hubs and potential destinations to meet the growing tourism demand in the coming years.” shared MOCST’s Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong.

In August 2023, the Vietnamese Government also introduced a new visa policy, extending the length of stay for visa-exempt markets and officially applying electronic visas for all countries and territories, expecting to facilitate travel for international tourists.

Tourism is a comprehensive economic sector, particularly interconnected with transportation. Developed and convenient transportation systems will create favourable conditions to attract tourists. With two presentations by the International Air Transport Association and the International Maritime Organization, MOCST’s Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong is pleased to notice that the travel demand on both air and sea routes is gradually recovering steadily after the global pandemic. The air route network connecting ASEAN's internal region as well as ASEAN with external regions is reopening with higher frequencies, and new flights to potential destinations are being operated. While maritime tourism has not fully recovered, sea routes are gradually becoming more active, with more ship arrivals and higher capacities compared to the previous year.

MOCST’s Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong at the meeting (Photo: TITC)

Regarding future directions to promote the recovery of the tourism and transportation sectors, MOCST’s Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong proposed a number of solutions such as Strengthening air connectivity within ASEAN, increase frequency, and open more direct flights between the capitals and major cities of member countries to promote intra-regional tourism and save travel time for tourists; Enhancing the quality of the workforce and tourism services to meet the increasing post-pandemic demand; Developing sustainable tourism, enhancing public-private sector partnerships to implement new initiatives on zero emissions and carbon neutrality.

MOCST’s Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong believes that with the participation of Ministers/Delegates and representatives from the private sector in the region, the meeting will discuss to propose appropriate cooperation solutions and directions for both sectors - tourism and transportation, as these two industries are closely interlinked, mutually supportive for mutual development. At the same time, Vietnam is committed to working closely with the tourism and transportation sectors of ASEAN to boost tourism recovery, increase flight frequency, and expand sea route itineraries, emphasised MOCST’s Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong.

The Meeting endorsed the formation of an Ad-hoc Task Force and to task the ASEAN Secretariat to develop the Terms of References together with ASEAN NTOs and ASEAN STOM for ad-referendum approval by the ASEAN Tourism and ASEAN Transport Ministers. The Meeting discussed and adopted the Joint Ministerial Statement of the Interface Meeting between the ASEAN Tourism Ministers and ASEAN Transport Ministers; As well as the Meeting considered and adopted the Report of the Interface Meeting between the ASEAN Tourism Ministers and ASEAN Transport Ministers held on 10 November 2023, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR.

Tourism Information Technology Center