ASEAN to boost tourism cooperation
ASEAN to boost tourism cooperation
SURABAYA, East Java (JP): Tourism ministers from the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are considering a
possible multilateral air accord to boost tourism in the region.
The ministers, now conducting their informal talks in
Surabaya, East Java, at the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 1996,
agreed to propose the idea of multilateral air accords to the
transportation ministers in their respective countries.
ASEAN's top tourist officials attending the ATF this year
include Brunei's Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Abdul
Rachman Taib, Indonesia's Minister of Tourism, Post and
Telecommunications Joop Ave, Malaysia's Minister of Culture, Arts
and Tourism Sabbaruddin Chik, the Philippines' Secretary of
Tourism Eduardo P. Pilapil, Singapore's Minister of State, Trade
and Industry Goh Chee Wee, Thailand's Minister to the Prime
Ministers Office Pongpol Adireksarn and vice chairman of
Vietnam's National Administration of Tourism Bui Xuan Nhat.
According to Joop, several ASEAN countries already have
bilateral air agreements.
He said Sunday that the Jan. 6-12 meeting in Surabaya, which
was also attended by ASEAN secretary-general Ajit Singh, also
discussed the possible establishment of special lanes for ASEAN
tourists at the immigration counters in international airports.
"We will discuss the matter with the ministers of
transportation and justice," he said.
The officials also agreed to develop a system to facilitate
yacht and leisure boat tourism in the ASEAN region.
ATF has been held annually since 1981 by the host governments
and their tourism industries.
Human resources
The ASEAN tourism ministers also used the meeting to discuss
the establishment of human resource centers to anticipate rapid
tourism development in their respective countries.
They also agreed that ASEAN member countries should continue
their efforts to promote the region as a single destination.
In a related development, the Malaysian and Brunei governments
announced their refusal to join the ASEAN Travel Association,
which groups hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, airlines and
other private companies in the region.
Governmental participation in the travel association is
expected to facilitate the private firms in the development of
the tourist industry.
Meanwhile, Malaysia's Asman Harun, a private-sector
businessman, was elected yesterday to replace Sri Mulyono
Herlambang of Indonesia as the association's president. (15/icn)