Sustainable tourism is a key economic driver for the Asia-Pacific region, creating jobs and promoting investment and development.
To help promote growth in travel and tourism in the region, the Tourism Working Group (TWG) was formed in 1991. It brings tourism administrators together to share information, exchange views and develop areas of cooperation on tourism trade and policies.
The TWG's objective is to foster economic development in the Asia-Pacific region through sustainable tourism, recognizing that: tourism is one the region's fastest growing industries and is of significant importance to the economic development of APEC economies; tourism is important in fostering regional understanding and cooperation; the tourism industry in member economies is at different levels of development; and member economies share the common goal of quality development and services.
The APEC Tourism Charter, endorsed at the 1st Tourism Ministerial Meeting in Korea in 2000, constitutes the basis for APEC tourism cooperation. The Charter reflects a collective commitment to improve the economic, cultural, social and environmental well-being of APEC member economies through tourism. It establishes four key policy goals and an agreed process for realising these aims:
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Removal of impediments to tourism business and investment
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Increase mobility of visitors and demand for tourism goods and services
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Sustainable management of tourism outcomes and impacts
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Enhance recognition and understanding of tourism as a vehicle for economic and social development
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The 6th Tourism Ministerial Meeting was held in Nara, Japan in September 2010 with the theme "Tourism for New Strategic Growth in the Asia-Pacific Region."
During the meeting, ministers presented and discussed the following sub-themes/issues:
- Tourism as an engine for Growth
- Sustainable and balanced tourism industry strategy
- Inbound tourism strategy
- New types of tourism
- New policy issues (Risk management, etc.)
Upon the commission by ministers in 2011, the TWG finalized its Strategic Plan for 2012-2015. The Strategic Plan identifies four priority areas of work. The TWG40, held on 25-26 April 2012 in Chinese Taipei, reviewed further the implementation of this Strategic Plan. The TWG40 agreed to appoint champion economies to help coordinate and facilitate implementation in each priority area:
- Tourism as an engine for growth and prosperity in the APEC region – Mexico
- Inclusive growth in the travel and tourism sector – Indonesia and Peru
- Sustainability of businesses and destinations – Australia
- Efficiency and regional economic integration – USA and the Philippines
In 2012, three projects are expected to help tourism development in APEC:
- Project TWG 01 2011A – “Creating Business Growth Opportunities in the New APEC Economy”. The project seeks to identify business growth opportunities and challenges that need to be addressed.
- Project TWG 02 2011A – “Destination APEC 2020: A Conference on Enhancing Tourism and Air Transport Connectivity in the Asia-Pacific Region”. A conference on this issue was held in February 2012 in Manila. Policy recommendations on air transport policy from the conference will be developed further and presented to the 7th Tourism Ministerial Meeting for direction.
- Project TWG 03 11A – “Sustainable Development of Touristic Destinations”.
The 41st TWG Meeting will be held on 21-22 July 2012 in Khabarovsk, Russia. It will follow up on pending matters from TWG40 and prepare documents to be discussed at the Ministerial Meeting. Issues to be discussed tentatively include: tourist safety and security, travel facilitation, and harmonizing transportation policy with tourism.
The 7th Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM7) will be held on 24-25 July 2012 in Khabarovsk. TMM7 will review the development of tourism in APEC and provide strategic guidance for future TWG work.
Javier Esteban Guillermo Molina (Mr)
Lead Shepherd
Advisor of International Affairs
Ministry of Tourism
Presidente Masaryk 172
Col. Bosques de Chapultepec 11580, México DF
Tel: +52 1 (55) 4566 5038
Email:
Pangeran Ibrani SITUMORANG (Mr)
Program Director
APEC Secretariat
Email: