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ASEAN enhances cooperation in tourism

ASEAN tourism ministers have gathered in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar for their 18th meeting and the 2015 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) with a view of boosting cooperation in the field.
ASEAN tourism ministers have gathered in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar for their18th meeting and the 2015 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) with a view ofboosting cooperation in the field.

The events were inconjunction with the 18th meeting of ASEAN plus three tourism ministers(China, Japan and the Republic of Korea).

The ministers welcomedthe large influx of tourists in 2014 where preliminary figure showedthat 97.2 million of international tourists visited ASEAN member states,posting a growth of 3 percent from 2013.

They commended theprogress made in implementing the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP)2011-2015 and agreed that for the new ATSP 2016-2025, ASEAN shouldstrive to become a quality tourism destination offering a unique anddiverse ASEAN experience while committed to responsible, sustainable,inclusive and balance tourism development.

They endorsed thefinal text of the Agreement on the Establishment of the RegionalSecretariat for the Implementation of the ASEAN Mutual RecognitionArrangement (MRA) on Tourism Professionals in Jakarta, Indonesia tofacilitate the implementation of the MRA on Tourism Professionals.Amongst others, this will include supporting the certification of 6,000ASEAN tourism professionals based on the ASEAN Common CompetencyStandard for Tourism Professionals (ACCSTP). The Ministers lookedforward to the signing of the Agreement during the 26th ASEAN Summit inApril 2015 in Malaysia.

The ministers agreed that it is importantfor ASEAN to enhance its competitiveness as a single touristdestination through the development and adoption of tourism standards.

TheMinisters welcomed and supported Malaysia’s initiative to develop anASEAN focused TV travel channel – “GOASEAN”, to promote ASEAN as asingle tourism destination featuring key areas such as nature-basedtourism, culture and heritage tourism, family fun and business tourism.

At the 18th meeting of ASEAN plus three tourism ministers, theparticipants applauded the roles of the ASEAN-China Centre,ASEAN-Japan Centre and ASEAN-RoK Centre in promoting tourism andcultural exchanges between ASEAN and the Plus Three countries during theyear 2014.

As scheduled, the 2016 ASEAN Tourism Forum willtake place in Manila, the Philippines, from January 18-25, 2016 with thetheme of “ASEAN: One Community for Sustainability”.

Ministers also noted that Singapore agreed to host ATF in 2017.-VNA
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