Tourism Ministers upbeat on ASEAN tourism progress
Tourism Ministers and delegates attending the 18th Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers and the 14th meeting of ASEAN Plus Three Tourism Ministers (China, Japan and the Republic of Korea), have been advised of provisional figures showing that 97.2 million international tourists visited ASEAN Member States in 2014, a growth of 3% from 2013.
Held on 25th and 26th January, in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, in conjunction with the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2015 (ATF), it was also reported that intra-ASEAN travel, the main growth engine of tourism in the region, made up more then 50% of the total international tourists visiting ASEAN – evidence of the effectiveness of the ASEAN Open Skies Agreement.
The meeting also agreed the underlying vision for the next period of ASEAN’s Strategic Tourism Plan (ATSP) for the period 2016 to 2025 would be to strive to become a quality tourism destination offering a unique and diverse ASEAN experience, while committed to responsible, sustainable, inclusive and balanced tourism development.
The Ministers also agreed to establish a Regional Secretariat for the Implementation of the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on Tourism Professionals, in Jakarta, Indonesia.
This office will support the certification of some 6,000 tourism workers, based on the ASEAN Common Competency Standards for Tourism Professionals (ACCSTP).
To further enhance quality in tourism, the Ministers launched the ASEAN Tourism Security & Safety Guidelines and Online Resource Centre website, containing guidelines, best practice and background papers on tourism related security and safety practices in ASEAN Member States.
In addition, they adopted the Tourism and Climate Change Monitoring System and Work Plan, to be included in ASEAN's new Strategic Tourism Plan which will be released at the 2016 ASEAN Tourism Forum.
Ministers also applauded the roles of the three ASEAN Centres, respectively of China, Japan and Korea in promoting tourism and cultural exchanges between ASEAN and the three ATP countries, and thanked the Government and People of Myanmar profusely for the warm hospitality and excellent arrangements made for the Ministerial meetings at ATF 2015.
For more information on the ASEAN Tourism Security & Safety Guidelines and Online Resource Centre website go to www.aseantssrc.org
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