Asean set to jointly promote tourism

The 10 countries of Asean are to endorse a regional tourism campaign called "Southeast Asia: Feel the Warmth", aimed at drawing tourists from non-Asean countries while also boosting intra-Asean tourism.The campaign will target visitors from countries like Australia, the United Kingdom, India, Hong Kong and North America.

Moreover, it should also encourage tourists from Asean member countries to travel within the region. The grouping consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The campaign was intro?duced at the Asean Tourism Forum meeting in Brunei in January. It will be introduced to the international market at the International Tourism Borse, which is taking place in Berlin this week.

Sansern Ngaorungsi, the Tourism Authority of Thailand's deputy governor for Asia and South Pacific, said Asean would endorse the campaign in order to increase competitiveness and help draw international tourists to the region.

It will be promoted through a six-week e-marketing cam?paign starting on March 15 tar?geting three types of travellers: "special interest travellers", "soft adventure seekers" and "young independents".

Moreover, the region will invite tourists to participate in an online content contest at the SoutheastAsia.org website.Asean countries are already running their own campaigns aimed at attracting foreign tourists.

Vietnam is promoting a new campaign, "Vietnam, a Different Orient", which it expects will increase interna?tional tourist arrivals by 10-15 per cent a year until 2020.The Philippines introduced "Philippines So Beautiful", Indonesia unveiled "Wonderful Indonesia", while Thailand is using "Amazing Thailand Always Amazes You".

Source = nationmultimedia