ASEAN nations to form new regional tourism strategy

ASEAN nations to form new regional tourism strategy

ASEAN member countries have created a strategic plan for regional tourism, emphasizing youth travel to bridge borders.

Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports Sasithara Pichaichan-narong disclosed that Thailand's recent hosting of the ASEAN Summit agreed to create a new tourism strategy plan in light of the existing plans impending expiry date in 2010.

Tthe new plan will extend cooperation within the region on tourism for another 4 years, beginning in 2011. The 10 nations of ASEAN agreed that the most important type of tourism for the region during the period will be tourism for "connectivity".

The strategic plan will thus focus on promoting youths throughout the ASEAN region to travel to other member nations to exchange their cultures and create ties. The plan is also hoped to increase financial flow in ASEAN.

Miss Sasithara also revealed that Thailand and Japan have agreed to organize a joint Thai-Japanese tour to encourage tourism between both countries.

National News Bureau of Thailand
10 March 2009