(TITC) – On the afternoon of 15 June 2023, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the high-level discussion on outstanding challenges and opportunities to revive the tourism industry in the Asia-Pacific region took place. The delegation of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism led by Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh attended the event.
Protection of tourists through the International Code was an important content discussed by the delegates during the high-level discussion. In her keynote address on “Rebuilding travel consumer confidence after the Covid-19 pandemic”, Ms. Alicia Gomez, Legal Adviser of UNWTO raised challenges in protecting tourists, especially during the Covid-19 period.
Accordingly, the Code was adopted at the 24th General Assembly of UNWTO in December 2021. The Code provides practical guidance to governments and recommends national policies, analyzes the relationships between tourism industry stakeholders and makes recommendations to protect and support tourists.
Member States are recommended to comply with the Code, share experiences with Member States and implement a reporting regime to UNWTO. At the same time, minimum standards of tourist protection are applied after standardization and harmonization of the rules. Public and private sectors are encouraged to implement this Code and incorporate its contents into contracts with tourists.
During the discussion session, speakers from Indonesia, the Philippines, Maldives, Japan, China and PATA all agreed on the addition of content on tourist protection to the Tourism Code, as well as the establishment of a quickly response department to respond issues of protecting the rights and safety of visitors.
At the same time, the speakers also said that it is necessary to focus on re-engaging human resources in the tourism industry, training and improving the quality to ensure the best service for tourists, and develop resilient tourism. To keep up with the technological leaps of the world today, requires countries to try to apply technology more.
Regarding the solution to regain the trust of tourists, the speakers said that it is necessary to create benefits for local people while ensuring the interests of tourists. There is a coordination mechanism between the government and the private sector to ensure a good experience for guests, build a tourism culture...
At the technical session on assisting international tourists in emergency situations, the speakers emphasized the need for flexible mechanisms to encourage countries to support and protect tourists according to the tourism capabilities and environment of each country. There is a need for cooperation between airlines and governments, making recommendations to countries on preparing for extreme cases, travel crises, and providing information and support to travelers as soon as there is an emergency situation. Encourage visitors to equip themselves, find out information about the destination, equip travel insurance ...
Regarding the minimum standards of tourist protection, the speakers affirmed that the service provider is an important factor. It is necessary to provide clear information to the consumer (from immigration authorities, airports, etc. to travel service providers). Tourists need to be propagated and understand about the International Code for the Protection of Tourists. Destinations need to take advantage of the power of the media to enhance communication and information for tourists. In addition, it is necessary to build a good relationship between the service provider and the embassies and consulates general to support tourists in case of need...
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