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Building
Travellers’ Confidence
The ASEAN-China, Japan
and Korean Tourism Ministers’ Retreat
in The Ritz Carlton Hotel, Jimbaran, on
Saturday 15 March, reiterated their commitment
to work in close partnership to build travellers’
confidence within and into ASEAN. Included
in this commitment, among others, are the
intensification of cooperation among law-enforcement
agencies in charge of tourist safety and
security and undertaking all necessary measures
to ensure communications and assistance
system to address visitors’ concern.
The
ASEAN plus three (China, Japan, Korea) Tourism
meeting that chaired by Mr. Somphong Mongkhonvilay,
Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office,
Lao PDR, were pleased with the progress
made to ensure safety and security of tourists
in Indonesia. Noting that tourism is a vital
force for peace and development, they reiterated
their call on all countries to refrain from
issuing travel advisories.
The ministers welcomed efforts by the ASEAN
Tourism Association (ASEANTA) and Visa Asia
Pacific in promoting sustainable growth
of tourism industry in Southeast Asia. The
Ministers were pleased that “ASEAN
Air Pass”, “ASEAN Hotel Pass”,
and “Visa Great Breaks 2003” would
positively contribute to the implementation
of the Visit ASEAN Campaign (VAC).
”We call for closer partnership across
industries to work with ASEAN to restore
confidence in the region as a tourist hub
and to promote the region as a single destination,
like Europe continent,” added I Gde
Ardika, Indonesian Minister for Cultural
and Tourism, who hosted the meeting. (dp)
Rp
1 Billion for The Successful of PATA Conference
Denpasar.
Badung regency government intention to make
the PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association)
Conference will gain a success which is
held in Nusa Dua, on next 13th -17th April
2003. It can be seen by the pledge of the
Badung Regency Government who is preparing
Rp 1 Billion for this event.
Badung regent, AAN Ratmadi, S.H. said about
that pledge when he received the Head of
Badan Pengembangan Pariwisata Pusat, Setianto
P. Santoso in his office on Tuesday (11/3).
The visited of this Head of Badan Pengembangan
Pariwisata Pusat was also in order to know
the preparation that will have done by the
Government in Bali in greeting the hundreds
of delegations from at least 35 contestant
countries.
Following the Bali Post quotation, Ratmadi
said, appointed Bali as the host of this
prestige event would give the influence
of the Bali’s recovery program after
the bomb tragedy. “We certain along
the attendance of the International delegation,
the expectation of the International society
of Bali will be raised among them.”
he explained.
For that reason, Badung –the regency
that defend on the tourism bossiness income-will
give the best they can do to the success
of the conference. This PATA will be wrapped
in more glorious compared with the last
successful PrepCom Conference.” We
will present this event more fantastic than
ever.
Ratmadi said, this 2003 PATA Conference
has strategic value in line with Bali’s
recovery. According to that, all of parts
hopefully will give their supports to this
event. To express the Balinese keenness
as the host of event, the banners will take
place starting from the Nusa Dua main entrance
until the BICC (Bali International Convention
Centre) building including the surrounding
area.
Mean while, the Head of Badan Pengembangan
Pariwisata Pusat said, this conference will
be reported by the national and international
journalists. Even, BBC and CNN will send
their journalist and reported the event
as long as the event held. Until this moment,
there are at least 400 delegations from
35 countries that will surly present the
conference.” Our target of participant
is 850 international participants and 200
national participants.” he explained.
With the time left, will predictable increase.
Generally, Indonesia hosted the same (PATA)
conference as much as four times and two
of them were held in Bali. According to
the Head of Bali Tourism Board, Badung Oka
Darmawan, where Badung regency pointed as
the host of the PATA Conference has been
preparing all of things for the PATA succession.
He added that next 2004 PATA conference
will be held in South Korea and Makao will
be the host of the 2005. (dp)
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