Representatives of member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have gathered today in the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) for the 13th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting.
They met for discussions themed “Digital Innovation, Collaborative Empowerment: Leveraging Tourism for an Asia-Pacific Community”, to consider new paths for tourism cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, the Macao Government Information Bureau (GCS) said in a statement.
“The 13th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting was held in a dignified manner today in Macao at the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex”, the bureau said.
“The attending delegates noted that tourism is an important driving force for economic development in the Asia-Pacific region, with a solid foundation, abundant potential, and a promising future.
“In recent years, the scope of mutual visa exemptions has continuously expanded, steadily improving the facilitation of cross-border tourism, while tourism exchanges have continued to grow in scale”, the bureau underlined.
The bureau said that the meeting “is an important component of the APEC China 2026 series of events and will serve as a new starting point for member economies to deepen further tourism cooperation”.
The English-language statement stressed: “It is expected that APEC member economies will jointly advance digital innovation to promote the high-quality development of the tourism industry; jointly explore cooperative empowerment to consolidate the foundations of tourism-supported prosperity; and share tourism values in order to build hand-in-hand the Asia-Pacific community”.
According to the statement, the meeting also addressed updates on important matters and progress arising from the APEC China 2026 meetings, the work of the APEC Secretariat, and the proceedings of the 67th APEC Tourism Working Group Meeting.
The bureau underlined that representatives from all APEC member economies delivered remarks at the meeting, as part of a joint discussion on tourism development in the Asia-Pacific region.
“Delegates jointly explored topics such as the important contribution of tourism development through digital and intelligent technologies to the economic and social progress of the Asia-Pacific region; priority areas for such initiatives; the promotion of barrier-free tourism in the Asia-Pacific region through innovative multilateral cooperation; and the encouragement of participation from more stakeholders, allowing digital and intelligent innovation in tourism to benefit a wider community”, the bureau said.
MSAR Secretary for Economy and Finance Ng Wai Han said during the meeting, according to the statement, that being able to host such a grand event is not only a full affirmation of Macao’s capacity to organise large-scale international conventions and exhibitions, but also provides strong encouragement for the MSAR’s ongoing efforts to position itself as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. On behalf of the MSAR, she expressed sincere gratitude to the Central People’s Government for its support and trust.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the attending representatives also enjoyed a raft ofcultural and tourism-related activities.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is an inter-governmental forum for 21 member economies in the Pacific Rim which promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
APEC held its first ministers’ meeting in 1989 in Australia whose then prime minister, Bob Hawke, is regarded as the multilateral bloc’s initiator. APEC’s first leaders’ meeting was held in the US, hosted by president Bill Clinton.
China will host this year’s 33rd leaders’ meeting in Shenzhen on November 18-19, hosted by President Xi Jinping.
Unlike the Hong Kong SAR and Chinese Taipei (the name officially used by APEC for China’s Taiwan region), the Macao SAR is not an APEC member economy. APEC is headquartered in Singapore.
In 1993, APEC declared a moratorium on admitting new members.
APEC has three official observers: ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council.
Mexico, Peru and Chile are APEC's three Spanish-speaking member economies.
- MPD
