ASEAN Tourism Forum Celebrates Silver Jubilee in Davao

Exclusive Report By Thomas E. King, TravelMole Special Correspondent 

More than 600 top rate artists and performers combined with a dazzling audio visual cultural performance greeted nearly 900 delegates – buyers, sellers and media to the 25^th Association of South East Asian Nations Tourism Forum ATF) in Davao, Philippines.

The event is being held in this southern city from January 13 – 21.

The ASEAN Tourism Forum is a cooperative regional effort to promote Southeast Asia as one tourist destination. This year’s theme is “Celebrating the Many Faces of ASEAN”

The annual convention brings together national tourism leaders and decision makers from the 10 member countries of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam to confer, exchange ideas, review industry developments and jointly to formulate specific recommendations to further accelerate the growth of tourism to and through the ASEAN region.

Each year, the hosting of ATF is rotated among member countries.  ATF 2006, hosted by the Philippines, marks the silver anniversary of the prestigious event.  This was the largest convention that 1. 4 million population Davao, an emerging tourism destination on the island of Mindanao, has ever organized.

The spectacular welcome organized for delegates and choreographed by the Cultural Centre of the Philippines reflected the bright tourism prospects of the region, which received some 44 million arrivals in 2005.  The Philippines received a record breaking 2.6 million visitors last year.

Australia is a major source market for the Philippines and many of other countries in the diverse ASEAN region.The Philippines Tourism Minister, Joseph Ace H. Durano (right) said that tourism is a powerful tool to help alleviate poverty in the region.

Mr Durano and his colleagues are investigating the possibility of establishing ASEAN tourism centres in major international markets.  He said the ATF would set the pace for the country’s tourism performance this year, which is expected to welcome 3 million visitors.

The Philippines will focus its efforts on “demand creation” this year in key destinations.  Australia is not targeted for any major promotions although the market is being carefully studied, Mr Durano said.

The ongoing issues of accessibility and capacity are being addressed with improved air connectivity to major destinations and more hotel rooms in key areas set to open.  Around 2000 new rooms will be on line by the end of 2007.

A US$5 per person per night bed tax still under debate could have implications, however, for cost sensitive markets.

In the opening speech, the principal speaker, Mr Rohit Talwar, CEO, Fast Future, addressed the topic “Strengthening Local Tourism amidst Crises – the case of Davao City” by saying “that we must look beyond the present challenges to develop long term strategies.”

The global futurist, who is a consultant to corporations and governments said that current problems like bird flu and even terrorism were the result of choices made by previous leaders.  He warned of the consequences tomorrow of making the wrong decisions today.

Mr Talwar awed delegates when he predicted that China and India could provide one billion outbound tourists by the year 2020 if current trends continue. 

The impact of the A380 and how it will affect future travel patterns was also addressed.  With some 550 people able to fly on just one aircraft the possibility of in flight conventions can become reality, he said.

Delving into the not too distant future, Mr Talwar tantilised delegates with the idea of holographic speakers, the speaker you have when you don’t have a speaker! 

As well, he touched on virtual travel where a memory chip would give individuals the sense of a lively market place in India, dining by the sea in Phuket or playing a game of golf in the Philippines without actually having left their home!

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