TOURISM is not only a vital driver of regional economic growth but also a key channel for people-to-people connectivity and that is why collaboration between China and Southeast Asian nations needs to be strengthened in dealing with tourism safety and security.
This was the message of Asean-China Center (ACC) Secretary-General Shi Zhongjun at the Asean-China Tourism Security and Safety Forum held in Yangon, Myanmar, on Aug. 25.
Shi urged all member nations to jointly build a safer, more prosperous tourism ecosystem, work toward a closer community with a shared future and enrich the 2025 Asean-China year of people-to-people exchanges.
He also proposed four priority actions to achieve the goal.
“Deepening policy and security cooperation, balancing safety with sustainable development, enhancing tourism capacity building, and promoting digital innovation and governance,” he said.
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Also present at the forum were Jeng Phang Naw Tawng, union minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, and Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar; Soe Thein, chief minister of Yangon Region; and You Xiaowen, secretary-general of the Lancang Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Center.
The event brought together over a hundred Asean and Chinese officials including experts, industry representatives and diplomats from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives from Asean member states, the Asean Secretariat, Asean National Police Secretariat, the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office and envoys of Asean countries to Myanmar.
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In a video message, Asean Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn said that tourism links both culture and economy, and safeguarding it is essential to restoring public confidence and advancing inclusive, balanced and resilient growth.
He underscored that ensuring tourism safety is integral to the Asean Vision 2045 and urged member states to share responsibility, strengthen cooperation and allow tourism to enhance mutual trust and development.
Jeng Phang Naw Tawng, meanwhile, highlighted the need to address not only security threats but also nontraditional challenges such as public health, natural disasters and environmental degradation. He called for building high-standard safe tourism destinations and reinforcing security barriers as the foundation for tourism and economic growth.
Participants agreed that tourism cannot thrive without security, and that even isolated incidents can erode public confidence.
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They resolved to strengthen comprehensive security systems, ensure accurate information dissemination and advance high-quality tourism connectivity.
The forum reached consensus on institutionalizing this mechanism to sustain cooperation between Southeast Asian nations and China in security and tourism, recognizing the forum and the ACC’s Initiative as vital platforms and road maps for regional action.
The forum was jointly organized by the ACC, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar, and the Lancang Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Center.
