Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Ministers tackle integration of tourism sector by 2010
MALIPANO ISLAND, Samal City -- Government officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations discussed steps on how to speed up the integration of the tourism sector by 2010 during the national tourism organizations (NTO) meeting at Pearl Farm Beach Resort in the Island Garden City of Samal Monday.
Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab of the Department of Tourism said the move for integration was approved at the last NTO meeting of the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) in Bali, Indonesia.
Palabyab said their vision is for tourists to travel with ease to Asean countries as well as outside of the region four years from now .
He said that with an integrated tourism sector within the Asean region, problems like bureaucratic red tapes experienced by the travelers could be reduced.
Palabyab added that they had tackled and covered extensively their agenda, which would be presented to the tourism ministers.
He was optimistic the agenda would be approved favorably.
The ATF is a cooperative regional effort to promote Southeast Asia as one tourist destination and calls together national tourism leaders and decision-makers from all 10 member nations to confer, exchange ideas, review industry developments, and jointly formulate specific recommendations to further accelerate the growth of Asean's tourism sector.
Organized also during the ATF is Travex, which is a platform for the selling and buying of regional and individual tourism products from Asean member countries, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao POR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
There are 370 buyers from 48 countries and the type of exhibitors include adventure and incentive travel suppliers, airlines, destination management companies, hotels and resorts, national and state tourism organizations, event companies, theme parks and leisure attractions and entertainment venues, travel management companies, car rental, trade publication and media and trade associations.
Among the countries with 10 and more buyers' delegates are Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, and USA.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (January 18, 2006 issue)
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