by Irene Wijaya | Mar 8, 2022 | Services, Technical Reports
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought considerable challenges to the tourism sector in ASEAN and globally. While the region has done relatively well in containing the spread of the virus, tourism activity is still considerably low. Strategic measures are being undertaken to welcome travelers back to the region. To better ensure the health and safety of travelers, ASEAN has created safety and health protocols to reduce possible exposure to viruses and keep everyone healthy. The ASEAN Guidelines on Hygiene and Safety for Professionals and the Communities in the Tourism Industry was developed specifically to ensure health and safety of travelers, service providers and professionals, and the communities involved. The Guidelines are designed for several communities in the tourism industry, covering 8 tourism and tourism-related sectors: accommodation, restaurants, facilities, spa and wellness, ecotourism/community-based tourism, travel and tour operation, and theme parks and convention centers. This set of Guidelines, along with the ASEAN Safe Travel Stamp, may be utilised by tourism industry players to assure travelers of hygiene and safety standards to raise the competitiveness and attractiveness of Southeast Asia as a preferred tourism destination. Download the ASEAN Guidelines on Hygiene and Safety for Professionals and the Communities in the Tourism Industry: Accommodations (front office and housekeeping) Restaurants (food and beverage services, food production) Facilities inside Hotels and Resorts (gym, yoga, swimming pool) Spa and Wellness Facilities Travel and Tour Operation Ecotourism and community-based tourism Theme Parks Convention Centers In addition, checklists are provided for use by business operators and service providers for each of those sectors: Accomodations (front office and housekeeping) Restaurants(food and beverage services, food production) Facilities inside hotels and resorts (gym, yoga,...
by Irene Wijaya | Jan 24, 2022 | Connectivity, Technical Reports
This report presents the proceedings of the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum, which was held online on 6-8 October 2021. ASUF was organised as part of ASEAN’s efforts in contributing to sustainable urban development and accelerating the implementation of the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy (ASUS) framework. The three-day forum aims to: a) Connect: Enhance connectivity and increase engagement and partnerships between AMS, cities, and relevant stakeholders to advance the implementation of sustainable urbanisation and foster collaborative and constructive approaches across ASEAN; b) Share: provide a platform to disseminate knowledge and share best practices and lessons learned on urban development in ASEAN to support the development of sustainable and inclusive policies and programmes in ASEAN; and c) Learn: provide guidance to ASEAN cities and interested urban practitioners to implement the ASUS framework (Figure 1) and build capacity in developing viable, sustainable and inclusive urban projects. The ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum was a collaboration between ASEAN and the UN-HABITAT. Download the Report on ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum [12,595 kb] Recording of the Forum is also available online: ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum 2021 – COVID 19 Recovery in ASEAN (1:18:41) ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum 2021 – Policy Roundtable (1:31:53) ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum 2021 – Financing Opportunities for Urban Development (1:00:54) ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum 2021 – GEDSI in Cities (1:01:14) ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum 2021 – SDGs Localisation (58:31) ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum 2021 – Closing...
by Irene Wijaya | Nov 15, 2021 | MSME & private sector engagement, Technical Reports
The ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development 2016-2025 (SAP SMED 2025) was launched at the sidelines of the 27th ASEAN Summit in November 2015. This report evaluates progress of the implementation of the first phase of SAP SMED 2025. It highlights some key initiatives of the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME) and the impact of these initiatives towards the advancement of MSME development noth regionally and nationally. The report also looks at changes in contexts and landscape, and propose steps to promote effective implementation in the second phase, highlighting the the importance to respond to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Download the Evaluation Report (2774...
by Irene Wijaya | Nov 2, 2021 | News
ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum, 6-8 October 2021 ASEAN convened the first ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum (ASUF) with the goal of promoting sustainable urbanisation in the region. The online Forum took place on 6 – 8 October 2021 in partnership with UN-HABITAT, through the support of the ASEAN – Australia Development Cooperation Program Phase II (AADCP II). The ASUF represents a key ASEAN initiative to support the establishment of a multi-stakeholder eco-system for knowledge sharing and policy development. ASUF, which builds on the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy (ASUS), aims to encourage a constructive dialogue around the priority areas for sustainable urban development across ASEAN. The Forum brought together about 1400 participants representing government agencies both from national and local, international organization, private sector, academia, and civil society organizations from 49 ASEAN countries including as well as other countries. During the two days, the participants shared experiences and lesson learned on sustainable urban solutions focussing on the identified priorities for ASEAN cities, discussed initiatives and progresses of regional and national agendas and explored how to better support the social inclusion and gender equality in urban development. Today, more than half of ASEAN people live in urban areas and an additional 70 million people are expected to live in ASEAN cities by 2025, making sustainable and inclusive urbanisation a key priority to achieve the objectives of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and to raise the living standards of local communities. ASEAN Member States (AMS) recognise the crucial role of urbanisation for sustainable development and have enacted a pro-active approach to support cities’ endeavors. AADCP II is committed to help realise an inclusive,...
by Irene Wijaya | Oct 28, 2021 | Cross Cutting Issues, Technical Reports
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is reshaping economies and societies around the globe. The opportunities arising from its evolution in ASEAN are limitless. The 4IR offers people the opportunity to grow better connected, helps economies grow and become more competitive, empowers ASEAN’s citizens and improves their livelihoods through digitalising the provision of basic social services, and helps society decarbonise to meet sustainable development challenges confronting the region. Turning these opportunities into reality requires that stakeholders work to develop and implement coordinated initiatives to embrace fully the 4IR while addressing potential risks that might arise. Leveraging the 4IR’s technological advances and building on existing initiatives across the region, the Consolidated Strategy on the 4IR for ASEAN aims to provide policy guidance in building the ASEAN Digital Community across the three Pillars of ASEAN: the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASSC). This Consolidated Strategy on the 4IR for ASEAN identifies three focus areas, namely Technological Governance and Security; Digital Economy and Digital Transformation of Society. To operationalise the key focus areas, the Strategy proposes three immediate, medium-term, and longer-term priorities for cooperation. Download the Consolidated-Strategy-on-the-4IR-for-ASEAN [4,943...
