ASEAN TOURISM GROW

It took four hours air travel from Jakarta to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In contrast, air travel from Jakarta to Bangkok, Thailand, could be much shorter, just take two hours. In fact, in terms of distance, Thailand is more distant from Indonesia compared to Cambodia because Thailand was in eastern Cambodia.

Four-hour trip to Cambodia was still added to the flight departure delays for two hours while on transit at Changi Airport, Singapore. Until now I have found no direct flight from Jakarta to Phnom Penh.

Jakarta-Phnom Penh flights must transit in Singapore, which normally could take two hours. Indonesia, Cambodia travel time becomes much longer compared to Thailand which already has direct flights from Jakarta to Bangkok.

Ministry of Culture and Tourism delegation who will attend the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2011 in Phnom Penh were made of fatigue with this trip on Sunday (16 / 1). No doubt, the length of time of travel resulted in members of the entourage had to wonder, what kind of condition and situation of the city of Phnom Penh.

Especially since the political conflict in Cambodia occur until the year 2000, making a shadow city of Phnom Penh is far from secure. However, concerns were melted everything after the group arrived in Phnom Penh and the local community are warmly welcomed.

Transportation problem
Connectivity issues between countries of ASEAN is also obtained a special discussion on the first day meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers in the office of Prime Minister of Cambodia, the Peace Palace, Phnom Penh, which became part of a series of events during the 15 to 21 January 2011 ATF. The event was attended by tourism ministers and deputy ministers from 10 ASEAN countries, one of whom was Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik.

Moreover, tourism in the ASEAN region at this time showed a positive growth since the storm lashed the world's global economic crisis in 2009. No less than 101 million tourists visited ASEAN countries during 2010. During the year 2010, tourists visiting ASEAN grew 14.4 percent compared to the year 2009.

At the meeting, Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Economic Community, ASEAN Secretariat, Sundram Pushpanathan, say, needed a strategic plan to support the connectivity between countries of ASEAN, both air transportation, sea, or land.

"Connectivity is a key strategic, support the tourism growth of ASEAN countries," he said.

As a solution, according to Team Leader of The ASEAN Tourism Strategic Development Plan Walter Jamieson, who is also the urban expert from Thammasat University, Bangkok, ASEAN interstate transportation constraints that can disiasati by empowering the institutions that already exist in ASEAN. "Thus, the work of ASEAN tourism development can be more easily," he said.

In a joint statement of ASEAN Tourism Ministers meeting, also mentioned that in order to support connectivity between countries of ASEAN, every minister of ATF 2011 participants assigned to coordinate with government and relevant ASEAN bodies to cooperate in the field of transportation. The cooperation includes the development of intercity flights ASEAN countries, increasing the ability of immigration, and encourage every citizen to travel in the ASEAN region.

ASEAN for ASEAN
At a meeting of tourism ministers of ASEAN, ASEAN Wacik propose for ASEAN to support the growth of tourist traffic in this area. That strategy, according to Wacik, is expected to encourage the citizens of each ASEAN countries prefer the tour in the ASEAN region compared to Europe and other countries.

"This is also a form of solidarity between countries of ASEAN, to support economic development and tourism in the ASEAN region," he said.

Smooth connectivity to flights between cities of ASEAN countries, according to Director General of Marketing of Tourism Ministry of Culture and Tourism Sapta Nirwandar, not just the concept of tourism development in ASEAN. However, on the contrary, ASEAN inter-state connectivity has a positive impact on tourism of Indonesia.

He gave an example, direct flights-Bandung, Kuala Lumpur has encouraged tourism sector spending in Bandung, in particular industrial distribution stores (distros). "Now, Air Asia already has four times the Kuala Lumpur-Bandung flights a day. So you can imagine how much trade transactions in the city of Bandung today, "he said.

For now, according to Wacik, indeed, not all cities of ASEAN countries to connect with Jakarta. Cambodia, for example, he said, still must go through a transit in Singapore. "I've offered a direct flight from Jakarta to Cambodia is to Garuda. However, if Garuda could not, would I offer to other airlines, "he said.

As the message delivered Wacik, the spirit of ASEAN for ASEAN it is not just to promote tourism in the ASEAN region, but also to encourage solidarity between countries in the region. From these tour events, will grow between residents know each other process in ASEAN countries.

As in Cambodia, just maybe some people from Indonesia who know that Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap have a strong bond with the Ancient Mataram Kingdom in Java. In fact, if the streets around the market and public facilities in Cambodia, we will find local residents who have physical characteristics very similar to the Javanese, the diminutive, brown skin, round-eyed.

Visiting traditional market Phsar Tul Tempung known as the "Russian Market", for example, also feels like entering Bringharjo Market in Yogyakarta. Most of the traders in the market was quite friendly and provide chairs for shoppers to select goods.

Of course it all depends on the smoothness and ease of transportation between cities of ASEAN countries. By itself, tourism of each ASEAN country can grow, while encouraging small industries in the countries concerned.


(kompas.com)