Sun Yeli, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China and Chair of the APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting, shared with ministers a statement that reflects the importance of leveraging digital innovation to empower tourism development.

The statement reflects the priorities discussed during the meeting last month under the theme of “Digital Innovation, Collaborative Empowerment: Leveraging Tourism for an Asia-Pacific Community,” and affirmed the vital role of the tourism sector in promoting economic growth and regional prosperity.

Through the statement, member economies deliberated on measures to promote travel facilitation in the region, including to make it more secure and seamless.

Ministers recognized the important role of digital platforms in creating new opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to integrate into tourism value chains, and are ready to advance digital transformation in tourism, consistent with the APEC AI Initiative (2026-2030), so that digital technologies and capabilities deliver benefits to all.

Emphasizing the importance of addressing the impact of digital innovation on the tourism workforce, ministers encouraged technological progress that supports economic opportunities, private sector job growth, lifelong learning and skills development.

The statement also encouraged economies to pursue policies and approaches that promote responsible tourism practices, conserve biodiversity, enhance resource efficiency and investment in resource-efficient infrastructure.

Read the 2026 APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting Chair’s Statement