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As one of priority sectors for ASEAN integration, the ASEAN tourism performance in
2008 continued with positive growth, despite of challenges posed by the global financial
crisis in 2008 and political situations in some ASEAN Member States. ASEAN attracted
more than 65 million tourists by the end of 2008 with year-on-year increase of more than
5.1 % compared to 2007 and received more than 59 billion USD.

Figure 1: Total International Visitor Arrivals to ASEAN (1991-2008)

The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) continued to be the landmark of annual tourism
event in the region. The ATF 2009 was held in Hanoi, Viet Nam, on 5-12 January 2009
with the theme: ³ASEAN Tourism ± Striving for a New Height´, attended by more than
466 foreign tourism companies as buyers and more than 590 sellers in ASEAN.

In anticipating the global economic slowdown in 2009, the ASEAN Tourism Ministers,
agreed to focus on Intra-ASEAN travel and declare that 2009/10 as the Youth Travellers¶
Year. The Ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to accelerate the integration
process and endorsed the initiative of the ASEAN NTOs (National Tourism
Organizations) to formulate the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan 2011-2015 as the
successor of the Roadmap for Integration of Tourism Sector (RITS) 2004-2010 to boost
the tourism performance.

The ASEAN joint tourism promotion for 2008 in major markets is conducted by the
ASEAN Tourism Promotional Chapter (APCT) in Sydney, Seoul and Shanghai through
production of promotional material and participation in international tourism events in
their respective source markets.

ASEAN adopted a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) that will increase the equality
of tourism human resource and will facilitate the mobility of tourism professionals within
the region using the ASEAN Minimum Competency Standards for Tourism as the basis.
MRA will enhance regional confidence in tourism training outcomes and qualifications
which will stimulate intra-regional investment and flow of human resources in the sector.

Success OF Food, Agriculture & Foresty



The SOM(Senior Officials Meeting )-AMAF(ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and

Forestry ) is the main ASEAN body that oversees the overall ASEAN cooperation in food
and agriculture, with the guidance of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry
(AMAF). Sectoral working groups/ joint committee/ board, and experts groups have
been established to implement the respective cooperation sectors of food, and the various
sub-sectors of agriculture and forestry, as well as in the trade promotion of agriculture
and forest products. In this mechanism, the ASEAN Secretariat acts as the overall
coordinator and provides necessary assistance in all aspects to ensure successful
undertaking of the cooperation programmes and projects in collaboration with sectoral
working groups, national focal points and relevant institutions.




ASEAN has implemented numerous cooperation projects in food, agriculture and forestry
sectors, which cover a wide spectrum of activities ranging from exchange of information,
crop production, postharvest and handling, training and extension, research and
development as well as trade promotion in the areas of crops, livestock, fisheries, and
forestry.

In order to respond to trade globalisation, ASEAN cooperation in food, agriculture and

forestry is now more focused on the enhancement of food, agricultural and forestry
products competitiveness in international markets, while sustaining agricultural
production. Harmonisation of quality and standards, assurance of food safety, and
standardisation of trade certification are amongst the priorities being addressed, building
upon the experience of some Member States and existing international standards.

Most of the ASEAN programmes and projects are implemented under a networking
arrangement, where cooperation is implemented through the focal point in each ASEAN
Member States and utilises national funds.