ASEAN wants 'fair' travel advisories after tsunami

A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Langkawi, Malaysia

Anticipating a possible decrease in the number of foreign tourists in the region after the recent tsunami disaster, ASEAN countries on Tuesday called on governments to be "fair and responsible" in issuing travel advisories for their citizens.

"We urge governments to coordinate, qualify and verify reports of damage with the proper national authorities before issuing such advisories that may prove damaging not just to the nations but the whole region as well," said Malaysian Minister of Tourism Leo Michael Toyad.

Speaking after the ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting and the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Tourism Forum on Langkawi island, Malaysia, Toyad refused to specifically name any countries that had issued such advisories.

He said the ASEAN countries also urged the media to ensure balanced and accurate reporting, stressing that the catastrophe had affected only a small part of ASEAN. "Our message is clear, that travel to ASEAN countries remains safe."

Indonesian State Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik said the government would not revise down its target of six million foreign tourists for this year. He added that the country would increase its tourism promotion in new markets, such as China and India.

He said that 95 percent of Indonesian tourist destinations were safe. "Ninety-five percent of tourist destinations in Indonesia are still attractive to visitors."

Wacik said for the time being Indonesia would not revoke its domestic departure tax policy.

"Millions of Indonesians would travel abroad if we revoked the policy, despite the fact that there are so many local tourist destinations that lack visitors," he said.

However, in the case of small enterprises that needed to send representatives abroad, he said his ministry would recommend that they be exempted from the departure tax.

During the meeting, which was also attended by ministers from China, South Korea and Japan, the ministers had agreed to reaffirm ASEAN solidarity and to assist the tsunami-stricken countries to rebuild their economies and accelerate the recovery of the tourism sector.

The ministers pledged in their statement -- the Langkawi Declaration -- to further strengthen cooperation and to promote the development of sustainable and safe tourism.

The ministers promised to enhance air linkages, and ground and waterway transportation to facilitate greater tourism in the region.

A special working group would also be established to recommend and facilitate measures designed to improve tourism integration so as to pave the way for the creation of the ASEAN Economic Community.