Region’s tourism ministers vow to boost cooperation

The tourism ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam last week agreed to boost cooperation, particularly in religious and food tourism.

The officials met at the Fourth ACMECS Meeting of Tourism Ministers and the Fifth CLMV Meeting of Tourism Ministers, both held in Chiang Mai province, Thailand.

ACMECS (Ayeyawady – Chao Phraya – Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy) is a political, economic, and cultural organisation composed of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar. CLMV stands for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

Thong Khon, the Cambodian Tourism Minister, said cooperation must focus on religious and food tourism.

“The countries under the CLMV and ACMECS have great potential in Buddhism and culinary tourism, with a great history and culture, which are important factors in attracting tourists,” Mr Khon said in a Facebook post on the ministry’s page.

“The member countries have improved their infrastructure and their physical connections with each other to reply to global tourism trends, including self-driving tours across countries,” Mr Khon said.

The number of international tourist arrivals in ACMECS countries reached 67.7 million in 2018, an increase of 10.6 percent compared to 2017.

Tourist arrivals in CLMV countries totalled 29.4 million, a 13.9 percent increase, according to the Ministry of Tourism.