TOURISM
Asean plans joint campaigns
- By: CHATRUDEE THEPARAT
- Published: 13/01/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Business
HANOI : Asean has agreed to launch joint tourism promotional campaigns to offset the impact of the world's economic crisis, according to regional tourism authorities and private operators. Packages will be offered as soon as possible or in the first half of this year, said Prakit Shinamornpong, president of the Thai Hotel Associations, who led representatives of the Thai private tourism sector to a regional meeting.
The Asean Hotel and Restaurant Association, which groups hotels and restaurant associations in the 10 Asean nations, held a meeting last week in Vietnam's capital to discuss ways to mitigate the impacts of the global slowdown on the industry.
The meeting was organised in parallel with the 12th conference of Asean Tourism Ministers, part of the Asean Tourism Forum 2009, the biggest regional tourism event ever held in Vietnam.
According to Mr Prakit, Asean tourism ministers have also agreed to support low-priced tour packages during 2009-2010, notably to promote regional tourism among the youth in Asean, China, South Korea and Japan.
About 60%, or 360 million, of Asean population of 600 million are currently under 30.
Despite the world's financial crisis last year, international tourist arrivals in Asean and China, South Korea and Japan grew by 7.49% last year from 93 million in 2007.
China, Japan, and Korea continued to be the important markets for Asean, representing 9.1 million arrivals or 19.01% of total foreign arrivals.
According to Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan, an increase of 5-7% of tourism in Asean would help offset the slowdown of the foreign visitors this year. In 2008, total international arrivals to Asean were 58 million, an increase of 7% from 2007.
Thai Tourism and Sport Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa said some of the activities under the joint tourism programme, of which details will be studied by a task force chaired by Thailand, were expected to be unveiled next month in Thailand.
Asean Family Rally and Asean Plus Three Tourism Student Summit will be held from March and June in the country to promote the programme.
According to Mr Chumpol, visa-free access and one-priced tourism campaigns for international and domestic tourists will be also tabled for discussion at the 14th Asean Summit in February.
Asean members have agreed to draft a tourism strategic plan for 2011-2015 to further integrate the regional tourism sector as part of the bloc's ambitious plan to establish Asean Economic Community in 2015, he said.
- Big drop in visitors to Koh Samui
- TAT expects 14 million arrivals in 2010
- Tourism sector frets over rally
- Government pledges to support convention sector
- Call for Phuket overhaul
- Nip to Thailand for a quick tuck
- Langham grows further in Thailand
- Big fair crowds bring smiles to operators
Keep this article in your social bookmark:
Or you can: 
