The Ministry of Tourism and Sports yesterday finally signed an Asean
Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on tourism professionals, delayed for
years by legal barriers.
According to the Constitution,
any international agreement that will bring about changes in Thailand must be
approved by Parliament. While other Asean member states signed such MRAs to
prepare for the Asean Economic Community in 2015, this one was held back in the
Kingdom by political troubles.
The move is expected to help
Thailand maintain its leadership in the hospitality industry while promoting
regional service standardisation.
"It is not too late for
Thailand. There will be time to discuss the issue at the Asean summit in Phnom
Penh soon,'' Tourism Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa said.
Yesterday he attended the signing
ceremony along with delegates from other Asean member states, who welcomed the
move. Surin Pitsuwan, Asean secretary-general, said he had a strong expression
that tourism would be a key driver of economic prosperity in the region as it
is promoted as a single destination.
The MRA on tourism professionals
is the sixth such agreement, as 32 job titles come under the Asean Minimum
Competency Standards. Five professions are recognised by the bloc: medicine,
nursing, dentistry, engineering, and architectural services.
Chumpol said the MRA would help
standardise the tourism industry across the region, benefiting not only
consumers who will receive higher-quality service, but also tour and hotels
operators, who will have more opportunity to employ skilled workers.
"However, the profession
will not really |be fully open because each nation has domestic laws to protect
its businesses,'' the minister said.
Surin said tourism in Asean was
very important for the bloc's economy. Currently, about 10 million people work
in the industry, with nearly another 25 million indirectly involved. Many of
these are in Thailand.
Tourism accounts for 5 per cent
of the bloc's gross domestic product, and Thailand has a big slice of this
cake.
Surin said that in 1991, only 20
million travellers from outside the region visited Southeast Asia, but now they
number 82 million a year. Tourism will play a rising role in the future if
Asean is combined as a single destination.
BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT
Business & Investment Opportunities
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