ASEAN TOURISM AGREEMENT: REGIONAL INTEGRATION, SOFT POWER, AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF INTERSTATE RELATIONS

Abstract

Abstract. This article analyzes the impact of the ASEAN Tourism Agreement on interstate relations and regional cooperation within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Over the past decades, the region has become one of the most dynamically developing tourist destinations in the world, leading to the growing importance of tourism not only economically but also politically. The ASEAN Tourism Agreement has become an important tool for stimulating the liberalization of tourist flows, strengthening the interdependence of ASEAN member countries, and shaping common tourism policies.

The article examines how this document facilitates the political and economic integration of ASEAN countries and how tourism is used as a soft power tool to strengthen interstate cooperation. The author analyzes the institutional, political, and economic factors that contributed to the adoption of the Agreement, as well as its impact on population mobility, cultural integration, and economic interdependence in the region.

Particular attention is paid to the role of the Agreement in diplomatic cooperation and changing power dynamics within ASEAN. The article concludes that the Tourism Agreement has a significant impact on the development of integration processes in ASEAN, stimulating not only economic ties but also creating new political mechanisms for sustainable regional interaction. The development of tourism within ASEAN is becoming an important factor in the transformation of interstate relations. For many years, the countries of the region have been striving to improve not only their economic performance, but also the level of trust and mutual understanding among themselves. The Tourism Cooperation Agreement plays an important role in this process.

Tourism cooperation also helps reduce tensions between states and strengthen diplomatic ties. Amid global competition for the tourism market, ASEAN countries recognize the importance of cooperation and integration in this area to ensure the competitiveness of the region as a whole. Moreover, tourism serves as an important tool for intercultural dialogue. Countries that actively develop their tourism industries achieve greater mutual understanding, which helps reduce the risk of interstate conflict and fosters peaceful coexistence.

One of the striking examples is the creation of joint tourism projects such as the ASEAN Heritage Parks, which includes natural and cultural monuments spanning several countries in the region. Such projects contribute not only to the conservation of natural and cultural resources, but also to the formation of a common tourism brand in the region.

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Received: 15.02.26 / Revised: 28.02.26 / Accepted: 18.03.26 / Published:30.03.26