An international conference on the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Agreement for Tourism Professionals (MRA-TP) took place in Jakarta, Indonesia on August 8-9.
Jakarta (VNA) 🐓– An international conference on the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Agreement for Tourism Professionals (MRA-TP) took place in Jakarta, Indonesia on August 8-9, focusing on strengthening intra-bloc links in travel, tourism and hospitality.
The event, with the participation of ministers, senior officials from ministries of labour, education, and tourism and representatives from travel agencies from ASEAN member nations, also aimed to boost skilled labour in tourism.
At the conference, the ASEAN MRA-TP was adopted as a measure for intra-bloc cooperation in tourism.
According to Indonesian Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, the fulfillment of the MRA-TP initiative will boost the quality of tourism services as it will create fair competition and trained labourers suited to the travel industry.
Under the MRA-TP, the standardisation and benchmarking of skills affects 32 job profiles in tourism and hospitality such as front office work, housekeeping, food and beverage services, tour operations, food production and travel agencies, among the 10 ASEAN member states.
The agreement will boost service standards and encourage intra-ASEAN mobility among tourism employees.
Based on the agreement, ASEAN nations will adopt consistent standards which will be recognised by all member nations.
According to Tran Nhat Hoang, Vice Director of the International Cooperation Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnam has focused on raising public awareness of the ASEAN MRA-TP through conferences and workshops.
The agreement is hoped to create momentum for Vietnam’s tourism industry, he said.-VNA
Vietnam’s tourism sector has been preparing its human resources in the event of the formation of the ASEAN Community that allows the free flow of labourers in the hospitality industry.
The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) officially came into being on December 31, 2015 opening up opportunities for more intensive cooperation in various areas among member countries.
Vietnam has become a spotlight in the global tourism map thanks to the country’s extensive and intensive integration in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an official said.
Vietnam has many strong points to help its tourism industry grow and compete with other countries in the region, said tourism expert Pham Truong Hoang from the National University of Economics.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
A beach in Phan Thiet city, Vietnam (Source: VNA)
