Asean aims for unity on tourism
By The Nation

 

If Southeast Asia is to truly be a single tourist destination, give visitors from afar a single visa to travel freely

 

BANGKOK: -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is undertaking a tourism marketing campaign to mark its 50th anniversary this year. It is called “Visit Asean@50: Golden Celebration” and aims at increasing the number of international arrivals by 10 per cent to 121 million, up from 109 million in 2015.

 

Asean is promoting the 10 member-countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – as a single tourist destination of immense diversity.

 

The question is whether the average foreign tourist actually knows what “Asean” is, even if he’s heard of Southeast Asia. Surely the basic initial task for the policymakers behind this scheme is to make the “Asean brand” better known globally. 

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/opinion/today_editorial/30307766

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-03-03

Also, how about some unity on free trade. Would be nice to see lots of other SEA beer, etc on the shelves here. Of course Thai beer is number 1. But would be nice to try some inferior ones to make me realise this. I'm a slow learner. 

Proves yet again they think we are stupid 

Most of Asia wouldn't know what ASEAN  is & i know that from when some asked me

I think it's a good plan. Just one visa for all ASEAN countries. So flying to Langkawai is the same as flying to Samui ,only cheaper.

If anyone believes that ASEAN would ever work like what is suggested in this article, then they don't understand how ASEAN nations governments think.

 

 

Edited March 3, 20179 yr by ChrisY1

A single visa? heard it all before

ASEAN, 50 years old and no one really knows what it is never mind what it does.

A single visa-----no

Free trade----no

freedom of labour---- no

support of member nations---no

and so on. 

1 hour ago, ChrisY1 said:

If anyone believes that ASEAN would ever work like what is suggested in this article, then they don't understand how ASEAN nations governments think.

 

 

Yes, if ever their was a hopscotch of nations ASEAN is it, half hate each other. 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Asean is promoting the 10 member-countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – as a single tourist destination of immense diversity.

On the other hand TAT is promoting Thailand as the ASEAN Hub of Tourism and Entertainment.

So much for unity.

26 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

On the other hand TAT is promoting Thailand as the ASEAN Hub of Tourism and Entertainment.

So much for unity.

ASEAN free trade unity and co-operation is exampled Thai style by slapping a tax on Cambodian fresh fish imports. Greed before anything else is their motto.

What comes next will be a tax on tourists coming from other ASEAN countries into Thailand? 

 

2 hours ago, chainarong said:

Yes, if ever their was a hopscotch of nations ASEAN is it, half hate each other. 

They all share a love of money. 

A single visa? heard it all before

ASEAN, 50 years old and no one really knows what it is never mind what it does.

A single visa-----no

Free trade----no

freedom of labour---- no

support of member nations---no

and so on. 

What does it do then? What's its purpose? Maybe it was all dreamt up to give naughty school children sometime to do for a school project over the summer holidays.

Good idea on paper, but I don't see them pulling it off any time soon.