1. The Eleventh Meeting of the ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan and the Republic of Korea) Tourism Ministers was held on 12 January 2012 in Manado, Indonesia, in conjunction with the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2012 and the Fifteenth Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers (M-ATM). The Meeting was preceded by the APT NTOs Meeting held on 10 January 2012 in Phnom Penh. The Meeting was chaired H.E. Dr. Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia, with H.E. Prof. Dr. Bosengkham Vongdara, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of Lao PDR, as Vice Chairman.
2. Despite global economic slowdown in some major markets, the Ministers were pleased to note that the international tourist arrivals in ASEAN Plus Three countries in 2011 remained resilient with more than147 million arrivals with3.7per cent growth compared to 2010.
3. The Ministers welcomed the decisions of the 14th APT Summit and the respective ASEAN Plus One Summits held on 18 October 2011 in Bali, Indonesia and expressed their full support to the implementation of the APT Cooperation Work Plan (2007-2017). In further enhancing thehe realisation of the activities stipulated under the Work Plan, the Ministers tasked their senior officials to prepare a Memorandum of Cooperation on ASEAN Plus Three tourism cooperation for signing the 12th APT Tourism Ministers Meeting. The MOC is aimed at facilitating travel within ASEAN Plus Three countries, enhancing quality of tourism products and forge concrete collaboration in the tourism sector through joint activities and exchange of experience.
4. The Ministers also welcomed the entry into forceof the ASEAN-China Air Transport Agreement, which will significantly enhance air accessibility between ASEAN and China. The Ministers highly valued Japan’s cooperation on ongoing efforts for expansion of “Open Skies” with ASEAN countries. The Ministers looked forward to the early conclusion of the ASEAN-ROK Air Transport Agreement for a full open skies arrangement that includes the liberalisation of 3rd, 4th and 5th freedom traffic rights.
5. The Ministers noted with pleasure the establishment of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) based in Beijing that would strengthen ASEAN-China collaboration in tourism and promote flow of tourists between ASEAN and China. The ASEAN Tourism Ministers tasked their officials to work closely with ACC in implementing their undertakings that would contribute to further enhancing tourism sector in the region. The Ministers thanked China for its support to ASEAN Member States in participating at China International Travel Mart (CITM) 20111 through the establishment of ASEAN Common Area.
6. The Ministers were pleased with Japan’s steady recovery from the damages caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The Ministers also expressed their appreciation to Japan for the support provided in implementing various ASEAN-Japan tourism projects/activities in 2011for human resources development and promotion of travel to the ASEAN region through ASEAN-Japan Centre, including the convening of ASEAN Fair 2011 held on 21-26 September 2011 in Osaka, Technical Workshop on Cruise Tourism for ASEAN held in November 2011, in Tokyo and Osaka.
7. The Ministers expressed their appreciation to ROK for the concrete work programmes in further progressing tourism cooperation with ASEAN by convening the ASEAN Tourism and Culture Fair on 30 September – 3 October 2011 in Seoul, establishing ASEAN booth at the Korean Travel Fair 2011 on 2-5 June 2011 in Seoul, publishing ASEAN Tourism Guide, ASEAN tour programme development contest, and ASEAN tourism human resources development programme, among others.
8. The Ministers expressed their sincere appreciation to the Government and People of Indonesia for the warm hospitality accorded to the delegations and the excellent arrangements made for the meeting.
LIST OF MINISTERS
The Meeting was attended by:
(i) H.E. Pehin Dato Yahya, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Brunei Darussalam;
(ii) H.E.Dr. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism, Cambodia;
(iii) Ms. Zhang Xinhong, Deputy Director General, representing H.E. Mr. Shao Qiwei, Chairman of China National Tourism Administration;
(iv) H.E. Dr.Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Indonesia;
(v) H.E. Mr.Ken Okuda, Senior Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan;
(vi) Mr. Shin Yong Eon, Director General, representing H.E. Mr.ChoeGwangSik, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Rep. of Korea;
(vii) H.E. Prof. Dr. Bosengkham Vongdara, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lao PDR;
(viii) H.E. Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen, Minister of Tourism, Malaysia;
(ix) H.E. Mr. Htay Aung, Vice Minister for Hotels and Tourism, Myanmar;
(x) H.E. Mr. Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. Secretary of Tourism,Philippines;
(xi) H.E. Mr. S. Iswaran, Second Minister for Trade and Industry, Singapore;
(xii) H.E. Mr. Sombat Kuruphan,Vice Minister for Tourism and Sports, Thailand;
(xiii) H.E. Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan, Chairman of Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism; and
(xiv) Dr. Somsak Pipoppinyo, Director, Finance, Industry and Infrastructure Directorate, representing H.E. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN.
