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)