'Asia tourism to brighten up'
(GANG JI, China Daily staff)
07/15/2003
HONG KONG: The picture for regional tourism is set to brighten up in the next few months - and will sparkle even more in the longer term. The optimistic forecast came yesterday at a major forum in Hong Kong on tourism in the region. Although SARS has dealt a heavy blow to the world's travel industry, especially in Asia, the forum's leading speakers took a bullish stance by predicting a comeback of tourism in the region by September or October. Peter de Jong, president of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), who made this forecast, was even more optimistic on the long-term prospect. China, with its strong economic growth, "will drive the future of travel in all neighbouring countries and much of the world", he said. A closer bond between China and South East Asia, he noted, will see much more travel within its borders in an economy that will be worth US$2 trillion in the next decade. The PATA president was referring to the proposed Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)/China Free Trade Area, which will cover a third of the world's population and be a tremendous boost to intra-regional travel, he said. Intra-regional travel will become an increasing part of tourism in Asia-Pacific, boosted by economic and political co-operation in this part of the world, he said. On short-term prospects, Francesco Frangialli, secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization, was also optimistic, expecting a recovery of Asian tourism in the third or fourth quarter. He made the remark at the Revitalizing Asian Tourism Conference jointly organized by Boao Forum for Asia and the World Tourism Organization. About 1,300 people participated in the event, which is aimed at boosting confidence in tourism and strengthening co-operation in Asia and worldwide, Long Yongtu, secretary-general of the forum, told reporters yesterday. SARS cost Asia's tourism industry about US$11 billion in the first two months of the outbreak, said Richard Gordon, secretary of tourism of the Philippines and chairman of PATA. Though hit by the global economic slowdown and terrorist attacks, the sector has been "very resilient" and has promising long-term prospects, Frangialli said. Gordon called for efforts to jointly promote Asia as a single and multilateral destination where travellers can make several stops to boost the sector. Hong Kong Tourism Board is working with major Asian destinations to launch joint promotions in the long-haul markets, such as the United Kingdom and North America, said Tung Chee-hwa, chief executive of the Hong Kong government. He said the SAR government is pressing ahead with major investments in tourism infrastructure over the next five years. Tung said the government is keen to encourage private businesses to participate in Hong Kong's tourism expansion. Investment in the tourism sector not only benefits Hong Kong, he said, but contributes to "making Asia as a whole more attractive as a tourist destination". (HK Edition 07/15/2003 page1)
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