ASEAN Launches a “Visit ASEAN Pass” for International Travelers

Travelers to Southeast Asia are now able to take advantage of a Visit ASEAN Pass or vap! that allows them visit two or more ASEAN Member Countries at a special low rate. The vap! was launched in early January 2006 and it is hoped that the reasonably priced vap! will encourage tourists to travel to more destinations within the ASEAN region. The vap! is part of ASEAN’s continued efforts to develop the region as a single tourism destination by 2010.

ASEAN Tourism Ministers (ATM), meeting on 16 January 2006 in Davao, Philippines, at the 9th Meeting of the ATM, welcomed the efforts by the tourism industry on promoting inter- and intra-ASEAN trade with the vap!

The Ministers noted and stressed the importance of enhancing marketing strategies for ASEAN tourism. To date, boosted by a single destination campaign and blessed with a rich diversity of attractions, ASEAN countries have continuously enjoyed promising growth in tourist arrivals. Based on tentative figures, by the end of 2005, more than 44 million tourists visited the ASEAN region. (Note: As some countries had only submitted figures for tourist arrivals up to September 2005, this final figure of tourist arrivals for 2005 is expected to surpass 50 million.)

However, the regional tourism industry still has room to grow and ASEAN Member Countries will be making efforts to gain a larger market share of both intra-ASEAN and international travelers. Looking ahead, 2006 will see ASEAN placing added emphasis on the growing sector of Youth Travelers and launching specially targeted promotional packages and benefits for young people. ASEAN will also work closely with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea on joint tourism promotion campaigns; tourism training and education; promotion of the sustainable development of tourism; and exchange of information on relevant statistics, policies and laws.

The ASEAN Tourism Minister Meeting is held every year in conjunction with the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), which gathers travel agents from the various ASEAN Member Countries.

(source:http://www.aseansec.org/18206.htm#Article-2)

ASEAN and ECO Secretariats sign MoU to boost cooperation, 18 Jan 2006

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Secretariat of ASEAN and the Secretariat of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was signed on 18 January 2006 by the Secretary-General of ASEAN Ong Keng Yong in Jakarta and by the Secretary-General of ECO Askhat Orazbay in Tehran.

The MoU will serve as a platform to build a closer relationship between the two regions through the sharing of information, practices and experiences in the areas of Trade & Investment, Narcotics Control, Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Tourism.

In the area of Trade and Investment, the two Parties agreed to exchange information on the implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and Economic Cooperation Organization Trade Agreement (ECOTA), as well as on related policies in trade, investment and customs reforms.

The two regions also agreed to share information on national laws and practices to suppress illicit drugs trafficking. Meanwhile, regional strategies will be developed to boost competitiveness and capacity in SME businesses especially in the critical areas of production and management.

ASEAN and ECO will also work together to develop the tourism infrastructure and facilities of the two regions as well as encourage the involvement of the private sector to boost growth and investment in the tourism sector.

The ECO consists of the Islamic State of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan Republic, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Turkey, Turkmenistan and Republic of Uzbekistan.

• Click here for the Memorandum of Understanding between the ASEAN Secretariat and the ECO Secretariat.
  

(source:http://www.aseansec.org/18206.htm#Article-2)