Indonesia promotes sustainable, inclusive tourism development

Delegates pose for a group photo at the opening of ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2024. (Photo: VNA)

Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia’s tourism industry will promote the implementation of sustainability and inclusivity values, contributing to the overall development goals of the national economy, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.

It is essential to position Indonesia as a quality tourism destination that is recognised globally, with key values such as sustainability and inclusivity, the deputy for resources and institutions at the ministry, Martini Paham, said in a speech at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Forum (ATF) 2024 on January 24 in Laos.

According to the official, Indonesia believes that sustainability and inclusivity align with the objectives of the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ASTP), which views the bloc as a quality tourism destination that contributes to the socio-economic welfare of the ASEAN community.

Regarding the ASEAN Economic Community Strategic Plan 2025 and beyond, Indonesia shared inputs on blue, green, and circular economy values that would positively contribute to tourism and creative economy development in ASEAN and globally.

Meanwhile, the ASEAN National Tourism Organisation's (NTO's) Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, on January 23 also talked about the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) and Brunei -Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

At the meeting, Indonesia presented two agendas, namely the Indonesia Tourism Investment Forum 2024 and the UNWTO Regional Conference on the Empowerment of Women in Tourism in Asia and the Pacific, which the archipelagic nation will host this year.

Paham said that Indonesia's participation in ATF 2024 could strengthen collaboration among ASEAN member countries and partners.

Themed "Quality and Responsible Tourism – Sustaining ASEAN Future," ATF 2024 saw the participation from ministerial and NTO officials as well as representatives from ASEAN Plus Three, ASEAN-India, and ASEAN-Russia./.