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The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is getting on the ASEAN Economic Zone (AEZ) bandwagon by taking over 100 staff members on a discovery tour of Vietnam and Lao PDR in May and June 2012. The AEZ, due to launch in 2015, aims at achieving greater economic integration among the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as enhancing the flow of travelers within the region. While trade expansion is the obvious primary goal of the zone, travel facilitation across borders also rank high on ASEAN national agendas as countries look to stimulate their economies through tourism, logistics development and bustling border trade.
In order to learn about the opportunities and pitfalls of the AEZ in relation to tourism promotion, TAT is organizing two overland trips: Vietnam during May 4-9 and Lao PDR during June 1-6. Previous staff outings have been to local destinations only. Mr. Suraphon Svetasreni, TAT Governor, stated, “WE want our staff to really get to know our ASEAN neighbors who are important tourist source markets as well as main destinations for visitors from third countries. There is much tourism potential for in these areas when Thailand enters the AEZ, but we must be ready to take advantage of that by 2015.”
Both trips commence in Bangkok and enter Indochina through Thailand’s Northeast. The Vietnam trip goes through Mukdahan Province in Thailand, Savannakhet in Lao PDR and then to World Heriage Sites in Hue and Hoi An and to the major port of Danang. The Lao PDR trip goes through Nong Khai Province into Vientiane, then on to Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage city.
Mr. Suraphon added, “We are going not solely for marketing purposes, but we also want to gain closer relations with our Vietnamese and Lao friends. Tourism is always a two-way business, so we are keen on making the trips which we hope will spur further intra-regional travel.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
