Minister of Tourism Thong Khon said that all ASEAN members should consider promoting tourism within the ASEAN region to restore regional and international tourism, with sustainable growth.

Speaking at the International Tourism Fair on September 8 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Thong Khon said that Covid-19 vaccines remained the key to building the trust of visitors.

“While the world is willing to live under the new normal – living with Covid-19 – the vaccines are the one tool which guarantees the safety of people and restores the trust of tourists. As tourist destinations, we should continue to increase vaccinations,” he added.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam and the ministers of tourism of Vietnam, Myanmar, Lao, the deputy minister representing the authorities of tourism, the Consulates General of ASEAN member states and about 350 representatives from the international private sector, urged the reopening of socio-economic activities in the new normal context, in line with roadmaps or strategies and guidelines, to put the lives of the people first.

“We all should consider promoting tourism within the bloc under the vision “ASEAN for ASEAN” and in sub-regional frameworks such as The Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy or ACMECS – made up of Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar – and the countries in the greater Mekong subregion,” he continued.

He said that ASEAN ministers of tourism, partners and world tourism leaders should continue to strengthen human resource development, and push to promote digital connectivity, innovation and creativity, line with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the future trends of tourism.