Wazzup Pilipinas!
At the recently concluded ASEAN Tourism Forum held in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia from 16 - 24 January 2014, the ASEAN ministers pledged to step up measures to realize the planned regional economic integration by 2015. The various committees reported on the progress of the programs and projects contained in the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP). The reports point to a 75% completion of the interventions, which include improving connectivity via the open skies policy; increasing competitiveness of the tourism workforce through the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA); simplifying visa procedures through the ASEAN common visa; improving readiness for crisis and climate change; establishing quality tourism through the standards on hotel, homestay, public toilet, spa service, tourism safety and security; and developing sustainable tourist destinations and products.
The ASEAN members agreed to adopt the Declaration on Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. Meetings were likewise held with dialogue partners such as China, Japan, and Korea to improve cooperation and travel with and among these countries. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and ASEAN Travel Agents (ASEANTA) were also present to support the ATF and the ASEAN initiatives.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. reported on the progress made by the Philippine government on the common visa citing the readiness of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to honor the visas extended by all member countries to those traveling to the country. Moreoever, Secretary Jimenez expressed the country’s heartfelt gratitude for the assistance extended by the ASEAN, WTO, PATA, WTTC, and other dialogue partners to the Philippines, particularly for the areas devastated by the earthquake and Typhoon Haiyan in October and November 2013. Chairing the ASEAN Committee on Climate Change, DOT Undersecretary Daniel G. Corpuz also presented the Guidebook on Climate Change, as a result of the workshop held in Legazpi, Albay last year.