ASEAN should work on visa regulation, connectivity first: UNWTO

In order to become a single tourist destination by 2015, ASEAN countries should first work on their visa regulations, travel facilities and flight connectivity, a United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNTWO) executive says.

“The region’s potential is great; it is one of the fastest growing regions in the world. The pulling of efforts and resources together will only make this region better,” UNTWO secretary general Taleb Rifai said on Thursday at the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Manado, North Sulawesi.

“If visa, travel facilitation and airline connections are approved, then the potential is tremendous.”

Rifai pointed out that the region represented up to 8 percent of world tourism, with about 74 to 75 million people visiting the region every year.

“In 20 years, Southeast Asia will become one of the fastest growing regions in the world. According to our estimation, it will grow by over 6 percent on average by then,” he said.

Rifai said that the UNWTO and ASEAN had agreed to cooperate in achieving the regional grouping’s targets.

“UNWTO will assist ASEAN countries individually and collectively with the statistics and data collection to ensure conformity with the UN’s standards in data collection and interpretation,” he said.

“We have a system called the tourism satellite account (TSA) that is internationally acknowledged, and we have committed ourselves to helping these countries in trying to make sure that [the system] is implemented.”

The organization will also help ASEAN make sure that the region’s tourism industry grows sustainably in respect to the environment and cultural uniqueness that each member state has, according to Rifai.

“Sustainability is not only the right thing to do. It is also good business. Sustainable tourism is the future. Without sustainability, there will be no future,” he said. (mtq)