Friday 24 January 2014

Asean Countries Urged To Work Together To Maximise Tourism Potential

photo: Malaysia Truly Asia facebook
KUCHING, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz tonight urged Southeast Asian countries to work together in order to chart the strategic directions to maximise the potential of Asean tourism beyond 2015.

He said to date, 75 per cent of the measures outlined under the Asean Tourism Strategic Plan 2011-2015 had been completed and by next year, it should achieve 100 percent. "We have made significant progress indeed. We are now on the threshold of realising our goal of making Asean as a 'One Nation, One Identity, One Community" by 2015," he said at the Asian Tourism Forum 2014 (ATF 2014) closing ceremony here.

Mohamed Nazri also handed over the ATF 2015 plaque and chairmanship to Myanmar's Hotel and Tourism Minister U Htay Aung as the host of the next Asean Tourism Forum carrying the theme 'Tourism Towards Peace, Prosperity and Partnership'.

The minister also expressed his sincere gratitude to the Sarawak State Government for being the co-host of ATF 2014 as well as their unwavering support and cooperation. Mohamed Nazri added that Asean countries were optimistic and enthusiastic that Yangon will continue the momentum of advancing tourism in this region together by being the host next year.

Meanwhile, U Htay said ATF was a cooperative regional effort to position and promote the Asean region as one tourist destination where Asian hospitality and cultural diversity was at its best. He stressed that by organizing ATF 2015, it was indeed a very exciting time for the tourism industry in Myanmar and described the event as unique opportunity for Yangon to create a positive legacy for the region's tourism.

The ATF 2014 which kicked-off on Jan 16 has further strengthened intra-regional cooperation and coordination in tourism through various meetings such as the 17th Asean Tourism's Minister Meeting and the 13th Asean Plus Three Tourism Ministers Meeting comprising China, Japan and South Korea beside other meeting of National Tourism Organisation.

During the ATF 2014, 10 hotels nationwide had received the Asean Green Hotel Award together with 76 hotels across this region.

-bernama.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.