Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Member countries of ASEAN will celebrate the groupings 50th Anniversary in 2017 by holding a joint tourism programme under the theme "Visit ASEAN@50: Golden Celebration" with the objective of embracing ASEAN as a single and united tourism destination.

"Visit ASEAN@50: Golden Celebration will highlight ASEANs best 50 festivals and 50 most unforgettable travel experiences, whereby visitors will enjoy a wide range of ASEAN tourism products through diverse destinations, culinary, events, and engagements with local communities," the ASEAN Secretariat said in a statement.

Special offers and travel promotions with affiliated partners will be rolled out for travellers to enjoy the richness of cultural, heritage, nature, and to feel the warmth of ASEAN hospitality.

Targeting major regional and long-haul source markets, such as: China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, UK, Germany, Russia, the UAE, USA and Canada, Visit ASEAN@50: Golden Celebration is expected to achieve 121 million international visitor arrivals to the region by the end of 2017.

Also increase tourism receipts to USD 83 billion; and extend tourist visitations average length of stay to 6-7 days, and to more than 2 ASEAN countries.

The official pre-launch of the Visit ASEAN@50: Golden Celebration campaign was spearheaded by ASEAN Tourism Ministers and Leaders at the ITB Berlin on 10 March 2016.

The pre-launch was followed by two days of ASEAN cultural performances for ITB Berlin's public audiences on 12 and 13 March at Thailand pavilion.
(Tz.F001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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