Connectivity between ASEAN countries and their people is believed to be the key to increasing competitiveness, inclusivity and community bonding. Tourism activities are able to take a central role in realizing connectivity.
Tours with the theme of the Panji story and gastronomic tourism are two examples of tourism activities that have cross-border cultural roots in ASEAN countries and are capable of being a bridge connecting connectivity. This was the case at the 12th ASEAN Tourism Research Association (ATRA) Tourism Forum which was held at Pancasila University, Jakarta, 16-17 March 2023.
The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy strongly supports this connectivity theme. The Director of Inter-Institutional Relations of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy Dra Yulia, MT, who was present to give a speech said that the Indonesian government had mapped out strategic issues related to tourism connectivity in the 2023 ASEAN Tourism Forum which was held in Yogyakarta last February. ASEAN tourism ministers have also agreed on the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan 2016-2025 to realize connectivity through tourism.
Also attending the ATRA Tourism Forum were delegates from James Cook University – Australia, Ciputra University Surabaya, STP Trisakti Jakarta and a number of other invitees.
