At the 2026 ASEAN‑Korea Roundtable on Tourism in Jakarta on Nov. 5, officials set a new direction for regional travel cooperation. The shift toward concrete projects and digital tools could soon affect the trips you take in Southeast Asia.

Martini M. Paham, Deputy for Human Resources and Institutions at the Tourism Ministry, outlined the target at the roundtable. She said the focus is shifting toward tangible outcomes, such as trial joint initiatives, standardized regional service frameworks, and digital solutions that cover the whole travel experience.

The two‑day meeting examined four key areas: travel safety and facilitation, measures to address travel barriers, tourism workforce development, and a deeper understanding of cultural diversity. These topics aim to make travel smoother and more inclusive across ASEAN and South Korea.

Participants agreed that recommendations will be pursued by technical working groups to create concrete institutional measures. This year’s discussions are intended to turn earlier findings into joint initiatives, aligning tourism service standards and improving digital services for travelers.

ASEAN recorded about 147 million international arrivals in 2025, with nearly 42 % coming from within the region. Meanwhile, more than 9.6 million South Korean tourists visit Southeast Asia each year, showing the strong market that the new cooperation seeks to serve.