ASEAN touted as single destination for tourist travel

Indonesia formally introduced ASEAN as a single tourist destination during the region's tourism forum in Manado of North Sulawesi province on Wednesday, the Jakarta Post reported here on Thursday. Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said that campaign was launched in Indonesia and would be fully implemented after problems involving issuing common visas to non- ASEAN residents and issuing free visas to ASEAN residents were settled. Pangestu said that the governments of ASEAN's 10 member nations were currently finalizing the introduction of the visas. "We are still waiting for approval from Cambodia and Myanmar," Pangestu said. She said that the heads of the governments of Association of Southeast Asian Nations' member states had, in principle, agreed to the introduction of common visas for non-ASEAN visitors and free visas for the residents of ASEAN member nations. The 31st ASEAN Tourism Forum in, which will take place from Jan. 8 to 15, comprises the 35th ASEAN National Tourism Organization Meeting, Ministerial Meeting and Travel Exchange. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.