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JOINT PRESS STATEMENT
THIRD MEETING OF ASEAN TOURISM MINISTERS
 (3rd M-ATM)
23 January 2000, Bangkok, Thailand

The Third Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers (M-ATM) was held on 23 January 2000 and was preceded by the Eleventh Meeting of ASEAN National Tourism Organizations (ASEAN NTOs) held from 21-22 January 2000. Both meetings were held in Conjunction with the on-going ASEAN Tourism Forum 2000 (ATF 2000).

The Third M-ATM was chaired by H.E. Mrs. Pavena Hongsakula, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office and Chairperson of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, with H.E. Pehin Dato Abdul Rahman Taib. Minister of Industry and Primary Resources of Brunei Darussalam as Vice-Chairman. The list of ASEAN Tourism Ministers in attendance is attached.

Launching the Visit ASEAN Campaign

The Ministers agreed to reformulate the Visit ASEAN Millennium Year 2002 program into a Visit ASEAN campaign. The overall objective of The Visit ASEAN campaign is to build a strong branding of the ASEAN region as a single tourism destination over a sustained period beyond 2002. This new approach will build upon the unique strengths and diversities, as well as the strong unity and complementation of the individual member countries under a single ASEAN brand.

The Visit ASEAN campaign will be officially launched during, ATF 2001 in Brunei Darussalam, with the commencement of the campaign from 2002 onwards.

Liberalization of Trade in the Tourism Services Sector

To further enhance intra-ASEAN cooperation ill the tourism sector and in line with the decision of the 31st ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting, the Ministers agreed that member countries will expand existing areas of cooperation through a more liberal policy environment in the ASEAN tourism services sector. In this connection, the Ministers created a special ASEAN NTOs task- force, with Thailand as country coordinator to step up negotiations to liberalize trade in tourism services, with the view to formulating an ASEAN package of commitments providing preferential incentives and facilitation support measures among others.

Status of Implementation of the Hanoi Plan of Action/Plan of Action on ASEAN Cooperation in Tourism

The Minister; expressed satisfaction with the following accomplishments since their last meeting in Singapore in January 1999:

Compilation and analysis of the results of TAT's multi-sectoral survey on the Facilitation of Intra-ASEAN Travel which recommended, among others, the promotion of intra-ASEAN travel and the forging of a strong partnership and dialogue, with the related sectors such as ASEAN transport, immigration, finance, customs and other authorities; 

Participation of ASEAN NTOs in the Joint ASEAN Investment Promotion Missions in Japan. The United States and Europe. The ASEAN Tourism Investment Guide will also be made available through the ASEAN Secretariat Website; 

Completion of the Kangwon-do International Travel Exposition held on 11 September – 30 October 1999 in the Republic of Korea, which attracted sonic 2 million visitors to the ASEAN Pavilion. A new project -- the Two-Day Workshop on ASEAN-and Korean Tourism for Korean and ASEAN Travel Agents -- will be implemented this year. These two projects. Are Under the auspices of the ASEAN - Republic of Korea Cooperation;

Ongoing cooperation with ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting (STOM) on cruise tourism development, regular exchange of data oil cruise industry and joint marketing and promotion, 

Establishment of ASEAN' Lanes in Bali, Bangkok, Yangon, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Kuala Lumpur. All ASEAN countries will have this special lane to support the Visit ASEAN campaign, through the complementary efforts of the ASEAN   Directors-General of  Immigration and Heads Of Consular Division of ASEAN Ministries of Foreign Affairs; and 

Publication of the ASEAN Map, which provides general information oil the major tourism destinations of all tell ASEAN member countries, and the decision to publish the Eco-Tourism Handbook.

Exchange of Information on the Negative Social Aspects of Tourism

The Ministers agreed to exchange of information on the negative social activities such as child prostitution. Paedophilia, human smuggling and drug trafficking, etc, as these activities damage ASEAN's image as it single tourism destination. The Ministers also agreed that this task will be Undertaken through the ASEAN Communications Team on Tourism (ACTT).

Role of Tourism in ASEAN's Sustained Economic Growth

The Ministers exchanged views oil the role of tourism in sustained economic growth and agreed that enhancing investment in tourism facilities, the removal of barriers to tourism and complementary marketing programs for ASEAN tourism are important areas of cooperation. Among others, the Ministers agreed to exchange experiences and cooperate in the promotion of domestic tourism and to explore ways and means to further promote the growth of intra-ASEAN travel in a more focussed and urgent manner. The Ministers identified that relaxation of visa requirements, the promotion and development of cruise tourism, air services Liberalization, strong ASEAN presence in major travel marts are among the important areas to be looked into by the ASEAN NTOs and the ASEAN relevant coordinating bodies.

The Ministers noted hat ATF 2000 with the theme "Towards Seamless Intra-ASEAN Travel" has attached a total of 1,500 ASEAN tourism and travel executives, government officials, buyers and sellers from 40 countries.

The Fourth Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers will be held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam on 21 January 2001, during ATF 2001 to be held on 18 - 24 January 2001, with "ASEAN Phinnacle of Tourism  Excellence as the theme”.


LIST OF ASEAN TOURISM MINISTERS IN ATTENDANCE

H.E. Pehin Dato Abdul Rahman Taib. Minister of Industry and Primary Resources of Brunei Darussalam;

H.E. Mr Veng Sereyvuth,, Minister of Tourism, Cambodia;

Mr. I Gede Ardika, Director - General of Tourism on behalf of H.E. Mr. Hidayat Djaelani, State Minister of Tourism and Arts, Indonesia;

H.E. Mr Cheng Sayavong, Vice-Minister of Commerce & Tourism and Chairman of the National Tourism Authority of Lao PDR, Lao PDR;

 H.E. Dato' Abdul Kadir Bin Haji Sheikh Fadzir, Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism, Malaysia;

H.E. Major General Saw Lwin, Minister of Hotels and Tourism, Myanmar:

H.E. MS Gemma Cruz-Araneta, Minister of Tourism, Philippines;

H.E. Mr Lim Swee Say, Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Singapore.

H.E. Mrs. Pavena Hongsakula, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office and Chairperson of the Tourism Authority of Thailand

H.E. Dr Nguyen Phu DUC, Vice Chairman of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Vietnam; and

H.E. Mr Rodolfo C. Severino, Jr., ASEAN Secretary-General.

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