On November 24, 2023, the workshop titled “Achieving Sustainable Tourism with Intangible Cultural Heritage and Creative City Network in Waterway Cities of ASEAN” commenced online, marking a collaborative effort between the International Training Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (CRIHAP) and UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok. The training primarily targets Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Cambodia and Laos boasting an approximate participation of 57 individuals. UNESCO facilitator Linina Phuttitarn was invited to lead lectures and provide guidance.

Jing Feng, Chief of the Culture Unit at the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, Zhang Jing, Deputy Director-General of CRIHAP, and Gp.Capt.Athikun Kongmee, Director of the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.

In a video message, Jing Feng emphasized that the training aims to deepen participants’ understanding of intangible cultural heritage and the cultural and creative industries. Its objective is to teach participants how to seamlessly integrate these elements into sustainable tourism, thereby supporting the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of local communities.