The 2nd International Conference on the ASEAN Mutual Recognition of Tourism Professionals was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 20 to 21 June 2018. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen attended the closing ceremony and delivered remarks. Cambodian Tourism Minister Dr. Thong Khon addressed the opening ceremony. More than 700 representatives, including government officials, scholars, experts and tourism professionals from ASEAN Members States, China and Japan attended the event. Ms. Zhou Hui, Deputy Director of the Education, Culture and Tourism Division was invited to attend the conference and exchange views with the representatives.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said, with the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and the development of Artificial Intelligence, ASEAN countries need to further integrate the tourism industry，enhance the level of exchanges and collaboration and share experiences on best practices in addressing challenges. Cambodian Tourism Minister Dr. Thong Khon said the current trend of rapid technological advancements create challenges as well as opportunities. ASEAN Member States need to prepare for the digital era and create proper education and training programmes that focus on the right skills.
Representatives discussed over topics which include the quality of tourism, the role tourism plays in promoting economic development, and the mutual recognition on tourism professionals and its regulatory framework, etc. Through the establishment of mutual recognition mechanism on tourism professionals and matching it up with relevant vocational education standards and standardized recognition mechanism, ASEAN countries wish to enhance the quality of international tourism professionals across the region so as to meet the demand of the tourism industry.