ASEAN+3 ministers see intra travel main source of tourism growth

Tourism ministers from the ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan and South Korea) said here on Monday that intra-APT travel remained the main source of tourism growth in the region.

They expressed satisfaction over the growth in the arrival of international visitors, where the ASEAN+3 (APT) region welcomed 241 million of visitors in 2014, an increase of 6.9 percent from 2013, according to a joint statement issued after a meeting of the ministers.

The ministers commended the progress made in the implementation of the APT Tourism Cooperation Work Plan 2013-17.

Noting the importance of development of framework to exchange ideas on tourist statistics for APT countries and new methods for tourist statistics in order to have a better understanding of the development of tourism in APT countries, the ministers welcomed the progress made in implementing the APT Tourism Cooperation Work Plan.

They applauded the roles of the ASEAN-China center, ASEAN-Japan Center and ASEAN-South Korea Center in promoting tourist and cultural exchanges between ASEAN and the Plus Three Countries during 2014.

The ministers thanked China for highlighting in its media destinations in ASEAN, familiarizationtour by Chinese media to ASEAN member states and workshop for tour operators.

The ministers also expressed appreciation to Japan for ASEAN- Japan Center's Annual Work Program for 2014 and gratefulness to South Korea for its support to develop ASEAN tourism through promotional activities and capacity building.

The 14th ASEAN+3 tourism ministers meeting was held in conjunction with the 34th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF).

The eight-day forum began on Thursday with the theme of "ASEAN Tourism Towards Peace, Prosperity and Partnership."