"ASEAN also has economic community which aims to turn ASEAN into a single market and production base so it keeps striving for a free flow of investments," Eddy Krismeidi Soemawilaga, a senior official of the ASEAN Secretariat`s infrastructure division, said on the sidelines of the fifth ASEAN Tourism Investment Forum (ATIF) here on Wednesday.
Eddy said a free flow of investments is a key to improving ASEAN`s competitive edge and attracting foreign direct investments and intra-ASEAN investments.
Therefore, ATIF is one of the concrete efforts to increase investment in the tourism sector and spur economic growth and tourism development in the region, he said.
The biennial event is particularly aimed at drawing up a map of tourism industry in the region as well as at enhancing friendship among ASEAN member states and between ASEAN member states and three members of the trade and industry council, namely China, Japan and South Korea, he said.
"ATIF is also intended to introduce investment projects in the tourism sector to ASEAN member states," he said.
In an effort to develop ASEAN Economic Community, ASEAN has drawn up a roadmap for the integration of tourism sector in the region, he said.
The roadmap contains ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2011-2015 supported by ASEAN ministries, he said.
The ATIF 2012 which will end on Thursday is participated in by delegates from six of 10 ASEAN member states, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand. The two-day event is also attended by participants from non-ASEAN member states, such as China. (S012)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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