| James Kon in Singapore |
ASEAN member countries are poised to work together to increase the number of international visitor arrivals by 10 per cent to 121 million with a new campaign Visit Asean@50.
Besides commemorating the 50th anniversary of Asean, visit Asean@50 aims to present Asean region as a single, united tourism destination.
The campaign was launched by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Asean Tourism Forum held at Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore.
The tourism event was attended by tourism ministers from Asean member countries, including Brunei’s Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong.
Prior to launching the campaign, PM Lee presented a picture of what Asean has to offer in its rich attractions.
“If your interest is ancient civilisations, there are Angkor Wat, Borobudur, the Bagan Temples. For beaches, there are Cebu, Phuket, Bali and Hoi An. For mountains and valleys, there are Kota Kinabalu and Sapa. For nature, there are parks and nature reserves in Brunei, caves in Mulu, waterfalls in Luang Prabang. If you want vibrant cities, there are Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok,” he said said.
“Working together is much more than jointly marketing Asean through campaigns and promotions. We also need to do the less glamorous, behind-the-scene hard work, overcome problems and build capabilities, and thus create the base for a vibrant tourism industry,” he added.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the Asean Secretary General launching Visit Asean@50 as Asean Tourism Ministers look on, including Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong. – PHOTOS: JAMES KON
A performance during the Gala Dinner.
Suggesting three improvements that can make a difference, PM Lee said, “First, we should continue to strengthen our air links. Affordable and convenient air travel is one of the most important factors driving tourism growth. The more the flights and the more affordable they are, the more the tourists will be and the tourism sector will prosper. We have already made massive progress in this regard. The annual air seat capacity of flights to and within Asean has more than doubled since 2007.”
Budget airlines, he said, have changed the game, making destinations affordable for millions more tourists. But there is huge potential for visitor numbers to grow further. All Asean member countries have ratified the Open Skies Agreement and we therefore look forward to more flights and tourists, he said.
“We should build up cruise tourism, which has immense potential for development. This is growing in popularity in North Asia and Australia. Asean is well-placed to promote cruise tourism.
“We have archipelagos to rival the Aegean, Caribbean or South Pacific, year-round tropical weather, calm waters, diverse and attractive destinations within short sailing distances,” the Singapore PM pointed out.
But developing cruise tourism is a multi-lateral effort, he said, adding that “we need to develop port infrastructure to receive bigger and newer ships and work with cruise providers to create attractive itineraries with multiple stops for tourists.”
PM Lee also touched on developing talent.
“In Asean, we have the natural advantage of cultures that are warm, friendly, and courteous, so visitors immediately feel comfortable and welcome, but our workers also need specific skills to run hotels properly, manage inventories and logistics, supply guides and interpreters, so that we can deliver the high standards international tourists are accustomed to. It is win-win, because investing in our workers will also create more opportunities and good jobs for our people.”
The launch also saw a number of vibrant performances from artistes from Singapore including Dick Lee with kids from the Academy of the Arts.
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