James Kon
Tourism has been one of the hardest hit sectors by the COVID-19 outbreak last year. In 2020, ASEAN member states preliminary reported that compared to the same period in 2019, the tourism sector suffered a loss of approximately 75.8 per cent in tourism receipts, international arrivals declined by approximately 80.5 per cent, the rate of hotel room occupancy was at its lowest, with the travel and tour industry also experiencing massive cancellations in 2020.
Despite the challenges posed in 2020, ASEAN Tourism Ministers commended tireless efforts by the ASEAN National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) and its Committees and Working Groups in coming up with mitigation and action plans to circumvent the impact, to continue…