After marking 2008 as the year of growth in inter-regional trade, ASEAN nations decided to begin 2009 by promoting inter-regional tourism. At a recently concluded conference in Hanoi, tourism ministers from ASEAN decided to work closely with the private tour operators to develop competitive package tours for travelers within the bloc and key markets China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

The bloc also plans to upgrade hotels and restaurants, train skilled tourism workers, reduce prices of tourism products and services and simplify procedures for ASEAN citizens within the region. A “Visit Southeast Asia” marketing campaign, which will target youth travel with new tour packages will also be designed.

While 2008 did see 54 million tourists trickle into Asia, a rise of seven percent, about half of the tourists traveled within the 10 ASEAN nations. Indonesian arrivals to Malaysia rose 45 percent in the third quarter 0f 2008 as compared to a year ago, according to the Pacific Asia Travel Association. A stronger Japanese yen and falling Korean won also spurred Japanese tourists to travel to Korea. According to JTB, Japan’s biggest travel agency Japanese tourists to South Korea rose 25 percent during the 2008 year end holiday as compared to last year, there was also a tenth more Japanese travelers to Malaysia and Hong Kong.