The Third ROK–IORA Partnership Seminar was held in a hybrid format on 9 June 2022 in Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, under the theme “Exploring Opportunities for Sustainable Growth through Reinvention of Tourism and Cultural Exchanges in the Post-Pandemic Era.” The Seminar aimed to strengthen cooperation between the Republic of Korea and IORA, with a focus on tourism and cultural exchanges as priority areas for post-COVID-19 recovery.
The Seminar was hosted by the Republic of Korea in collaboration with the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute (KCTI) and the Jeju-do Special Self-Governing Province. A total of 67 participants attended, including representatives of IORA Member States, government officials, policymakers, and experts from tourism and cultural institutions, with both in-person and online participation.
Opening remarks were delivered by Mr Sangryol Lee, Director-General of the Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. An online welcome message was delivered by H.E. Mr Salman Al Farisi, Secretary-General of IORA. A keynote presentation was delivered by Mr Ashwin Kumar Seetaram, Director of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Mauritius and Chair of the IORA Core Group on Tourism, highlighting the importance of cooperation in rethinking and rebuilding tourism in the Indian Ocean region in the post-pandemic context.
The Seminar comprised two thematic sessions: Eco-friendly and Digital Tourism for Resilience and Transformation and Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of Tourism and Cultural Exchanges. Presentations by policymakers and experts from the Republic of Korea and IORA were followed by panel discussions and interactive Q&A sessions.
Key outcomes included the exchange of best practices on sustainable, eco-friendly and digitally enabled tourism, strengthened networking among stakeholders, and reaffirmed commitment to continued cooperation under the IORA Core Group on Tourism. The Seminar underscored the importance of collaborative and innovative approaches to advancing sustainable tourism and cultural exchanges in the Indian Ocean region.
