Asean tourism ministers have agreed to adopt an Asean Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2011-2015 to serve as reference for national tourism organisations in carrying out tourism programs in the Southeast Asian region.
The use of the Asean Tourism Strategic Plan is a follow up to a roadmap for integration of tourism sector which ended in 2010, according to the results of the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) which is taking place in Phnom Penh from Monday to Friday.
The draft of the Asean Tourism Strategic Plan was earlier discussed and finalised by the Asean tourism special working group in Solo, Central Java, in August in 2010.
The Asean tourism forum was preceded by the 33rd meeting of Asean National Tourism Organisations in Phnom Penh on Jan 14.
The meeting among others elected chief of working group in the new organisational structure according to the Asean Tourism Strategic Plan 2011-2015.
Thailand has been appointed to lead the working group for marketing and communication with Vietnam as deputy chairman. The working group for product development is led by Malaysia with Myanmar as deputy chairman.
The Philippines was appointed to chair the working group for tourism quality with Singapore as deputy chairman. Brunei Darussalam was elected to lead the working group for integration and budget committee with Cambodia as deputy chairman.
Meanwhile, Indonesia was appointed chairman of the Asean Tourism Professional Monitoring Committee with Laos as deputy chairman.
At the Phnom Penh meeting, Indonesian tourism and culture minister Jero Wacik once again came up with the idea of encouraging tourist arrivals among Asean member states.