PRESS RELEASE
MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND CREATIVE ECONOMY/TOURISM AND CREATIVE ECONOMY AGENCY
ID HOTELIER - Yogyakarta, February 4th 2023 - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of Tourism and Creative Economy Agency, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, chairs the 22nd APT Minister’s Meeting" at the 2023 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) held in Yogyakarta.
On that occasion, he appreciated the established cooperation between the ASEAN Plus Three countries and expected this moment to strengthen collaboration in developing the tourism sector. ASEAN Plus Three is a form of economic cooperation participated by all ASEAN member countries with three countries in the Northeast Asia region, namely Japan, South Korea, and China.
“It is an honor to welcome you all on this opportunity. I would like to extend my enthusiasm for the cooperation of ASEAN with three countries, seeing the growing opportunities after the pandemic,” according to Minister Sandiaga at the Marriot Hotel Yogyakarta on Saturday (4/2/2023).
He explained the necessity of recalling the severe impact of the pandemic on the tourism sector to understand the current situation. Therefore, all parties need to make progress together cautiously.
“We can see the recovery momentum at this time, but for the Asia Pacific area, we haven’t yet achieved the tourism performance as achieved in 2019,” he added.
Referring to the latest UNWTO data, in 2021, international tourist travel declined by 93 percent. However, the number was cut to only 77 percent by 2022 with the hard work of all parties.
“It is certainly not enough. We have to speed up our pace. Not by walking, but a very long marathon,” he continued.
This meeting, Sandiaga said, must become the momentum for countries in the ASEAN Plus Three to strengthen collaboration and continue to work together. It emphasizes the collaborative consensus to move forward in the 2021-2025 ASEAN Plus Three tourism cooperation plan.
“I would like to hear more about the interventions and comments from all member countries. We uphold the idea of collaboration, in which we all work together with collective and measurable actions to realize ASEAN as the epicenter of world economic growth. ASEAN is proud of the dialog support from our significant partners, such as the Plus Three countries,” Sandiaga said.
I Gusti Ayu Dewi Hendriyani
Head of Communication Bureau
Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Tourism and Creative Economy Agency