ASEAN Tourism Conference

Mutual benefit to the visitor and host destination is a key principle of sustainable growth. Mass tourism to fragile, pristine, and undisturbed natural areas is not only damaging but is also unsustainable. Ecotourism, on the other hand, can be used to target high-yield visitors who are advocates of environmental and social responsibility. The tourism road ahead is bright if there is commitment to protect a destination's flora, fauna, cultural heritage, local way of life, and guidelines are set up to encourage tourism investors to adopt recycling, energy efficiency and water conservation.

Speakers include Imtiaz Muqbil, a veteran’s journalist, Mario Hardy Chairman of the Board of Trustees, PATA Foundation and a trustee from the PATA Foundation. Datuk Dr Victor Wee, Chairman, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Tourism Malaysia) who coordinates the successful Visit Malaysia campaign for 2007.

Umberto Cadamuro, Director of Business Development and Operations, Pacto.
Indonesia has been supporting the local community by sharing the wealth generated by tourism in several initiatives aimed at bettering the condition of schools in remote areas of the island. Apart from his native Italian, Umberto is fluent in English, Spanish and Bahasa Indonesia.

Jimmy Sim, Business Development Manager, Dorison Travel Singapore
Jimmy, who was a leader in the cruise sector in Singapore and the region and tour operator for the Indonesian market moved in 1996 to a new location.
Garden City Associates was merged in 1996 and became P&O Garden City Travel where Jimmy was regional COO and headed the tour operations for Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong until the P&O Travel network was sold.

Anthony Wong is Group Managing Director, Asian Overland Services (AOS) Tours and Travel Malaysia.
Anthony Wong is a veteran in the tourism and MICE industry, Anthony’s leadership has made AOS the country’s leading inbound tour operator for ecotourism, adventure, experiential learning and special interest and incentive tours in Malaysia.

Sourced: traveldailynews