Overview
Tourism is one of the key areas of ASEAN’s cooperation since the early establishment of the Association. In 1977, the ASEAN Leaders agreed to establish a Committee on Trade and Tourism, as one of the five permanent Committees under the purview of the ASEAN Economic Ministers. Four years after the formalisation of the tourism cooperation among the ASEAN Member States in 1976, ASEAN established the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in 1981. The Forum is an avenue for the ASEAN governments to engage with private sector and relevant civil society organisations to promote ASEAN as a single tourism destination. As the structure of the organisation is evolving and as cooperation in tourism sector is also growing and expanding, the ASEAN Leaders agreed to have a standalone sectoral body for managing the tourism sector under the ambit of the Meeting of the ASEAN Tourism Ministers in 1997.
Recognising the vital importance of the tourism sector in contributing to the economic development of the region, the ASEAN Leaders, through the Manila Declaration in 1987, encouraged more intra-ASEAN travel and a development of a viable and competitive tourist industry. In January 1998, the ASEAN Tourism Ministers signed a Ministerial Understanding on ASEAN Cooperation in Tourism, during their Meeting in Cebu City, Philippines. The document provides among others the development and promotion of ASEAN as a single tourism destination with world-class standards, facilities and attractions. On 4 November 2002, the ASEAN Tourism Agreement was signed at the Eight ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This Agreement further underscores ASEAN’s commitment to engage the private sector as a policy to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of ASEAN’s tourism sector. Through this Agreement, ASEAN Member States commit to cooperate closely in facilitating intra-ASEAN and international travel and provide greater market access under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services, develop quality tourism, ensure the safety and security of travelers, actively conduct joint marketing and promotion, and develop human resources in the tourism and travel industry.
Recognising the vital importance of the tourism sector in contributing to the economic development of the region, the ASEAN Leaders, through the Manila Declaration in 1987, encouraged more intra-ASEAN travel and a development of a viable and competitive tourist industry. In January 1998, the ASEAN Tourism Ministers signed a Ministerial Understanding on ASEAN Cooperation in Tourism, during their Meeting in Cebu City, Philippines. The document provides among others the development and promotion of ASEAN as a single tourism destination with world-class standards, facilities and attractions. On 4 November 2002, the ASEAN Tourism Agreement was signed at the Eight ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This Agreement further underscores ASEAN’s commitment to engage the private sector as a policy to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of ASEAN’s tourism sector. Through this Agreement, ASEAN Member States commit to cooperate closely in facilitating intra-ASEAN and international travel and provide greater market access under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services, develop quality tourism, ensure the safety and security of travelers, actively conduct joint marketing and promotion, and develop human resources in the tourism and travel industry.
