The ASEAN tourism performance in 2003 showed strong recovery especially in the last four months of the year. In the midst of negative issues affecting global travel, ASEAN attracted 37.5 million tourists by the end of 2003. This figure is, nevertheless, lower by 14.7 percent compared to tourist arrivals in 2002.

Figure 1: Total International Visitor Arrivals to ASEAN (1992-2003)

The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) continued to be a landmark annual tourism event. The ATF 2004 as held in Vientiane, Laos from 30 January to 7 February 2004 with the theme: “ASEAN, the New tourism Landscape.” The event brought 264 foreign tourism companies as buyers to explore business opportunities in tourism, about 1,000 sellers, 467 tourism booths and 210 media agencies. The ASEAN Tourism Ministers, at their 7th Meeting held on 3 February 2004 in Vientiane, Laos, agreed to work towards advancing the integration of ASEAN tourism. The Ministers adopted the Action Plan for the Implementation of the ASEAN Tourism Agreement.

The third phase of the Visit ASEAN Campaign (VAC) was “soft launched” to further promote intra-ASEAN travel. This phase will highlight the promotion of various attractive packages for tourists traveling within the ASEAN region, such as ASEAN Hip Hop Pass by tourism industries through the ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA). This value package supported by participating airlines, hotels and travel agents will be available for one year starting on 15 April 2004 until 31 March 2005. More information on the Hip Hop Pass could be viewed at

http://www.aseanta.org/hiphop.html.

ASEAN is working towards expediting the development of Minimum Common Competency Standards for Tourism Professionals in ASEAN and working towards concluding MRAs for key professionals for implementation in 2005. Competency standards for restaurants, bars, housekeeping, tours and travels are being developed. The realization of competency standards will enhance regional confidence in tourism training outcomes and qualifications which will stimulate intra-regional investment and flow of human resources in the sector. This initiative will also facilitate the conclusion of mutual recognition of qualifications in tourism industry.

ASEAN is actively cooperating with other countries and organizations in promoting tourism, particularly with China, Japan, Korea and India. A well coordinated and effective mechanism of information exchange through ASEAN Plus Three Communication Team for Tourism is being enhanced in order to effectively deal with any possible contingencies in the future. The tourism authorities of ASEAN and India met for the first time in October 2003 in Bagan, Myanmar to explore areas of cooperation.