The ASEAN Promotional Chapter for Tourism (APCT) – India got together in New Delhi this evening to launch the VISIT ASEAN @ 50 celebrations that endorses ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) as a single and collective tourism destination to the Indian audience. ASEAN will attain 50 years in 2017 and the campaign is in commemoration of the golden jubilee of the association. APCT was conceived by the member countries of the ASEAN as part of its efforts to leverage the tremendous tourism potential of the region. Around 150 members of the trade fraternity, media and high level officials attended the meet here.
Speaking on behalf of APCT India, Datuk Naimun Ashakli Mohammad, High Commissioner of Malaysia said, “ASEAN has proven to be the world’s rising star. UNWTO record shows 5% growth in international tourist arrivals in South East Asia in 2015, more than the average worldwide growth of 4%. South East Asia has always been an attractive destination for Indians. In fact, India has consistently been one of the top 10 tourist generating markets to this region.”
“ASEAN has much to offer with the inherent diversity in terms of people, lifestyle, culture, religion and culinary experience, together with the rich natural landscape and deep historical heritage. Visit ASEAN @50 covers a series of selected products and offers, one of which is ASEAN Tourism Packages. They are offered by travel agents from the ten ASEAN countries and made available on the ASEAN Tourism website (www.aseantourism.travel) and consists of attractive tour packages that promote dual and triple destinations in a single package. Tourists can choose to visit the 37 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, join cruises or homestay programmes or simply bask in unique experience of the ASEAN culture,” added Datuk Naimun Ashakli.
Officials at APCT – India opined that accessibility is a key requirement for the success of tourism, and it would be imperative to connect every tourist destination in ASEAN into the overall integrated transport and communications network that moves people, information and goods swiftly. Smaller schemes such as the Cambodia-Thailand single visa have already been implemented and they have proven successful.
Tourism accounts for roughly 4.6% of ASEAN GDP. Visit ASEAN @ 50 campaign hopes to attract more than 121 million tourist arrivals to the region and increase tourism receipts to USD 83 billion. Last year the ASEAN region saw close to 109 million visitors with Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam, being the top 5 visited countries.
The ongoing Golden Jubilee celebrations will continue at the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2017 in Singapore, from 16 to 20 January 2017. TRAVEX, a part of ATF events, may be of particular interest to the Indian travel trade fraternity as it offers opportunities for ASEAN Sellers of Tourism products to meet with international buyers through scheduled appointments, organized by Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) and National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS).
