Thailand’s Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) and ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA) have signed a four-year MoU to widen efforts to benefit the local communities in sustainable tourism sites beyond Thailand to other South-east Asian nations.
The partnership also aims to further promote community-based tourism and accessible tourism for all by encouraging tourist attractions in South-east Asia to take part in sustainable and community-based tourism.
The MoU was formalised with the signing between DASTA’s director-general Taweebhong Wichaidit and ASEANTA’s president Mingkwan Metmowlee on Monday at the 5th World Tourism Conference 2019 at Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
ASEANTA’s president Mingkwan said: “In November, TCEB together with ASEANTA plan to invite over 200 ASEANTA’s component members to Pattaya where the content will focus on best practices on sustainability and community-based tourism, focusing on the environment and community. ASEANTA also plans to organise with NTOs in (South-east Asia) to visit DASTA sites in Thailand.”
DASTA is a Thailand public organisation accountable to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, with roles and responsibilities in sustainable tourism cooperation, through coordination for integrated administration of areas with valuable tourism resources and acting as an important driving force in the administration of the country’s tourism industry.
ASEANTA, a non-profit tourism association comprising both public and private tourism sector organisations in South-east Asia, counts the ASEAN Hotel & Restaurant Association, Federation of ASEAN Travel Associations, NTOs and airlines among its members.
