Jakarta (ANTARA News) - ASEAN tourism ministers gathered in Manado , North Sulawesi on Wednesday to discuss ways to improve the region`s tourism services and the standardization of human resource working in the tourism sector.

"Improvement of the quality of services to tourists traveling in ASEAN is included in ASEAN`s Tourism Strategic Plan for the period 2011-2015," Indonesian Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said here on Wednesday.

She said ASEAN had previously adopted a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for tourism professional movement. The agreement allowed ASEAN citizens working in one of the eight categories of professions in the tourism sector to work cross border through certain certification and training.

Mari said the ministers also discussed ways to promote more tourism destinations and develop creative tourism packages.

"We can develop cruise packages and combine them with music or stage shows. Indonesia, for example, has a Java Jazz Festival which can be included in tourism packages in the future," she said.
(A051/HAJM)

Editor: Ella Syafputri
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