Asean tourism industry goes all out to increase international arrivals

The 10 Asean nations are attempting to strengthening their tourism industries in the hope of increasing international arrivals to the region from 109 million in 2015 to more than 120 million this year. 
As part of the push, the region has created an inaugural regional tourism campaign, Visit ASEAN@50, after the Association of Southeast Asean Nations (Asean) was founded at Thailand’s Bangsean beach town in 1967.
Devinder Ohri, the new president of the Asean Tourism Association (ASEANTA), said that the campaign aimed to attract international arrivals from North America, Europe, the Middle East, China, Japan, India, and Oceania.
He said Asean was the fastest-growing area for tourism and travel, and people around the world were coming to the region.
In response to the influx, he said the World Travel and Tourism Council had urged the region improve its infrastructure.
Sounh Manivong, director general of the Tourism Marketing Department of the Laos Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, said the body would promote local activities along with the country’s unique culture to international markets this year.
He said it would also focus on more on the MICE market (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions). 
Laos will host the Mekong Tourism Forum in June – an event that is expected to strengthen tourism along the Mekong River.
CCT Group founder Vichit Prakobkosol, whose business handles a large number of Chinese visitors to Thailand, said arrivals from China would keep growing despite the Thai government’s crackdown on cheap package tours. 

Quality visitors
“More quality tourists will head to Thailand. Meanwhile, we will strengthen the freely independent tourist and medical and wellness segments,” he said.
In Vietnam, major tour operators said the country would continue to invest more in the segment and launch e-visas that would help draw more international arrivals to the country. Vietnam is one of the emerging markets of the tourism industry. 
Daw Khin Than Win – deputy director general of Myanmar’s Ministry of Hotels and Tourism – plans to bring tour operators from the country to participate in international tourism events in many countries to promote the emerging market’s attractions and destinations.
“Thailand is the biggest source of tourists [for Myanmar], but we are realising significant increases [in arrivals] from many other countries including China,” she added.
Kobkarn Wattanvrangkul, Minister of Thai Tourism and Sports, predicted that Asean tourism would continue to grow by 8-10 per cent per year over next five to 10 years, thanks to economic growth in the region and a wide variety of tourism products.
Asean tourists to Thailand |grew from 7.8 million in 2015 to |8.7 million in 2016 and that figure |is expected to reach 9.3 million this year.