Phnom Penh: The ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA) is committed to fostering collective commitment of regional tourism organisations and to enhancing regional connectivity, professional development, and sustainable tourism practices. The commitment was made in its Assembly-General and Board Meeting held in Phnom Penh on Mar. 17 with key regional players in attendance.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the meeting, hosted by the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA), underscored the commitment of ASEAN member states to strengthen regional tourism cooperation and to promote the ASEAN region as a premier tourist destination. The meeting concluded with both parties expressing optimism for the future of Cambodia's tourism industry and the broader ASEAN region, as they continue to work together to enhance regional connectivity, professional development, and sustainable tourism practices.
CATA President Mrs. Chhay Sivlin and Chairman of the ASEANTA Excellence Awards said that the ASEANTA meeting was a significant opportunity for Cambodia to showcase its tourism potential and to collaborate with ASEAN neighbours. "We discussed the existing and new initiatives aimed to promote professional development, to facilitate regional tourism exchange, and to strengthen cooperation to deepen and develop the tourism sector in the region," she told Khmer Times.
The meeting underscored the importance of advancing recovery plans for ASEAN Tourism to strengthen partnerships, stressing the critical importance of sustainable tourism for economic growth, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation in ASEAN. The meeting also discussed Muslim friendly travels aimed to foster cooperation to attract more Muslim tourists.
The ASEANTA Assembly-General meeting was held after the meetings of ASEAN Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHRA) and Federation of ASEAN Travel Associations (FATA)'s board meetings on the morning of Mar. 17. Cambodia attracted 6.7 million foreign visitors in 2024, up 22.9 percent from the previous year, according to a report from the Ministry of Tourism.