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Joint Tourism Development
Lead Country: Malaysia
Last Meeting: 7th WGM; December 2-3, 1999; Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
Chairman: Shahril Saat, Undersecretary, Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Tourism

Own or manage a resort, hotel, restaurant, or travel agency in the EAGA? Do you work for a tourism department of government? Go on frequent holidays? Interested in business opportunities and developments in this industry?

If the answer to any of these is YES, then the EAGA TOURISM FORUM needs you!

This EABC-moderated Forum is an open-to-all online discussion group that focuses on events and issues related to the tourism industry in the BIMP-EAGA. As such, it aims to find solutions to physical and policy impediments to the industry's growth, or come up with innovative ideas for sustainable development.

It's FREE, FAST, and INSIGHTFUL. You don't have to be an "industry insider" nor a consultant; not even extensive knowledge of EAGA's tourist markets is required. All that you have to have is a valid email address. Subscribe today! Type your email address in the box below and hit the "join group" button. Registration ongoing; Forum opens November 1.

Subscribe to the EAGA Tourism Forum
>> Also check out other EAGA Forums: Airlinks, Sealinks, Construction, and Fisheries.
OPPORTUNITIES:
  • Joint Cruise Development.  The Working Groups on Tourism and Air Links are undertaking measures to generate interest in EAGA as a single tourist destination. These include EAGA-wide holiday packages, and non-EAGA pick-up stations, among others.
  • Craft and Cultural Villages.  In getting to know our heritage and bringing it to the world, Craft and cultural villages have been established in Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao (Malasag Eco-village); Sarawak (Sarawak Cultural Village); and Penampang, Sabah (Monsopiad Cultural Village).
  • BIMP-EAGA Travel Exchange (TRAVEX).  The first exchange held in Davao City on 15-17 March 1997 brokered 4 Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) and 17 Memoranda of Understanding (MOU).

WORKING GROUP PROPOSAL:
Malaysia proposed that the present Asian Youth Exchange Program on the Japanese vessel Nippon Maru be encouraged to cover specific points in the BIMP-EAGA region, as this will be very helpful in promoting the region as a popular tourist destination among Asian youths.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES:
Indonesia has eliminated fiscal taxes for its citizens traveling to BIMP-EAGA regions from certain designated ports. The Philippines has likewise continued its implementation (until 2000) of non-payment of travel tax for citizens bound for EAGA destinations from any port in Mindanao.



Working Groups:  Agro-industry | Air Links | Capital Formation | Construction | Energy | Environment | Fisheries | Forestry | HRD | People Mobility | Sea Links | Telecommunications | Tourism
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Published by Andrew G. Dy, EDP Officer, BIMP-East Asean Business Council