By DayakDaily Team
JOHOR, Jan 20: The 28th Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers (M-ATM), chaired by Malaysia, concluded with a strong focus on advancing regional tourism under the theme, “Unity in Motion: Shaping ASEAN Tourism Tomorrow.”
Malaysian Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Dato Seri Tiong King Sing said the discussion centred on several key priorities to address challenges and seize opportunities for the region’s tourism sector, namely strengthening ASEAN’s unique tourism identity, enhancing regional connectivity, and promoting resilience and sustainability in tourism.
One of the meeting’s standout outcomes was a proposal to refine tourism data collection by incorporating excursionists—short-term visitors who do not stay overnight—into reporting frameworks.
“This aims to better capture their economic contributions and role in tourism spending,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday (Jan 19).
The meeting also reviewed progress from the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and laid the groundwork for the Post-2025 ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan.
This forward-looking initiative aims to align the region’s tourism efforts with global trends and sustainable practices, setting a clear direction for the Tourism Sectoral Plan 2026–2030.
As Malaysia concluded its tenure as Chair of the 28th M-ATM, the nation expressed gratitude to the Philippines for their commitment to regional collaboration.
It was announced that the Philippines will chair the 29th M-ATM and ASEAN Tourism Forum in 2026, with Singapore serving as Vice Chair. – DayakDaily
