The Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies has urged 10
nations in Southeast Asia to work more closely together in preparation for the
opening of the Asean Economic Community in 2015.
The Jakarta-based association,
comprising 1,700 members nationwide, considers the single market of 650 million
people in 2015 as a business opportunity for all in the tourism industry. Despite
similar tourism products, the countries will not be rivals. In fact, foreign
tourists will come not only to one country, but also to others at the same
time.
Besides such travellers flowing
across the region itself, there will be big markets such as China with 1.3
billion people and India with more than 1 billion, providing plenty of
opportunities for the AEC market.
Bagus Sudibya, the association's
president, yesterday told the monthly meeting of the Association of Thai Travel
Agents (ATTA) that members should plan for a joint operation, especially for a
single Asean visa.
The government should push the
initiative ahead as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam have recently
collaborated to launch their own single visa.
Indonesia eyeing thailand
Indonesia has the biggest
population and economy in Asean. The country, especially its private sector, is
now getting ready for the AEC.
Bagus is looking for ways to
improve ties in the tourism indus?try with Thailand.
It's likely he will ask his
government to spare a portion of its pro?motional budget to promote Indonesia
here.
The country sets aside an annual
budget of US$65 million (Bt2 billion) to market it in key source countries
including Singapore, Malaysia, China and Japan.
In Indonesia, tourism ranks as
the fourth-largest contributor to gross domestic product, with $8 billion in
revenue last year. About 12 million Indonesians take overseas trips and their
number will increase dramatically, thanks large?ly to GDP growth of 5-7 per
cent per year in the past decade.
Also, the middle-income group is
growing and should reach 20-25 per cent of the 225-million population.
Sisdivachr Cheewarattana-porn,
ATTA's president, said Indonesia was a big market for Thai tourism.
The government should go on a
roadshow to this market to promote the country and more man-made tourism
attractions should be constructed.
About 40,000 Indonesians come to
Thailand annually, though some data released by Thai agencies put that number
as high as 300,000.
Arrivals remain small because of
a lack of a promotional campaign and local-language tour guides.
About 20,000 Thais travel to
Indonesia per year, mainly to Bali.
Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit
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