Bangkok, Thailand, August 10, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The APEC Ministerial Meeting on Tourism will take place concurrently with the 60th meeting of the APEC Working Group on Tourism from August 14 to 20, 2022 in Bangkok. Over 300 ministers and officials from APEC member countries are expected to attend.

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Thailand has confirmed its readiness to host the 11th APEC Ministerial Meeting on Tourism and the 60th Meeting of the APEC Tourism Working Group in Bangkok from August 14 to 20, 2022, in its role as host of APEC 2022.

His Excellency Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports, stated: "This is the first time Thailand has hosted a ministerial meeting on tourism among the 21 APEC member states. Over 300 ministers and officials are expected to attend. The meetings are being held under the theme of 'regenerative tourism' and follow a low-carbon approach that promotes a sustainable recovery after the pandemic."

The concept of "regenerative tourism" pursues a holistic approach to tourism development and promotion, taking into account all potential impacts on the environment, culture, and local way of life. In addition to restoring tourist attractions, the strategy emphasizes sustainable tourism development by adjusting visitor numbers to the specific offerings and—more importantly—prioritizing service quality and consistency over sheer tourist numbers. Furthermore, it aims to encourage local communities to participate in inclusive and equitable tourism and to strengthen their awareness of the importance of preserving culture and the environment.

This aligns with the Thai government's Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economic model, which aims to revitalize tourism in Thailand and promote safe, inclusive, and sustainable travel. The BCG model leverages Thailand's strengths in biodiversity and cultural richness and is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“As host of the APEC Summit 2022, Thailand aims to advance the APEC recommendations on regenerative tourism to pave the way for the future of tourism across the Asia-Pacific region. Thailand will use these recommendations as a starting point for a tourism policy built on the concept of sustainable tourism, which will help to revive our tourism sector, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mr. Phiphat.

By ensuring the sustainable development of natural resources and involving the local population with the aim of genuine income redistribution to the local community, the concept of "regenerative tourism" is intended to benefit APEC member states in the post-pandemic recovery of their tourism sector. Furthermore, it contributes to achieving the goal of using tourism to improve the environment, foster social creativity and valuable local knowledge, and ultimately support local communities through better jobs and livelihoods.

This reflects Thailand's motto for hosting APEC 2022: "Open. Connecting. Balanced."

In addition to the meeting of the APEC tourism ministers and the working group, accompanying events will also take place, including an academic seminar on "Community-Based Design of Regenerative Tourism" and an excursion to the historic Talat Noi district in Bangkok and the Sampran model in Nakhon Pathom. The aim is to give participants the opportunity to learn about community-based tourism in line with the concept of regenerative tourism.

“On behalf of the Thai people, Thailand is ready to be a good host and to present our regenerative tourism initiatives to the ministers and officials of the APEC member states during the APEC Tourism Ministers Meeting and related meetings,” Mr. Phiphat concluded.

Also attending the press conference were Mr. Choti Trachu, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the TAT, as well as executives and officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the TAT, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) and the Government's Department of Publicity.