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)