ASEAN Economic Community 2015 Forum – “Where is Tourism Heading?”

By Anthony Tan | VIRGIN Communications
email: anthonykhtan@yahoo.co.uk

Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Malaysia Chapter, in collaboration with PATA Headquarters with the support from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia (MOTAC) and Tourism Malaysia, is organising a Hub City Forum (HCF) themed ‘AEC 2015 – Where is Tourism Heading?

 

ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) tourism industry is one important sector where there are still some issues needed to be addressed by the 10 nations in South East Asia. AEC will be implemented with effect from 1 January 2015 with its objectives to transform the region into a single market and production base with a high competitive advantage to make it a stable and prosperous region.

This forum may be one last call and update on how will the AEC affect and impact tourism businesses in the region and its ASEAN member-country and in particular, Malaysia.

This is the first time for HCF to be held in Malaysia after it was successfully held in Singapore, Jogjakarta and Seoul.



Datuk Azizan - Chairman,
PATA Malaysia Chapter

The forum will be a good platform for the Malaysia’s industry players to present the issues faced by Malaysia in the making of the AEC and find solutions to chart new paths for growth in the travel and tourism industry. The forum will be held on 15 October 2014 at The Royale Chulan, Kuala Lumpur and officially launched by the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia.

 

Tourism and hospitality industry players, airlines, land transport operators, sea transport operators and those with interest in this industry within the region should attend this last call forum before heading into ASEAN open market AEC to learn and share the experiences to be prepared to face new challenges.

 

Organising Committee - PATA Malaysia Chapter

 

 

Programme on 15 October 2014

 

8:30 am   Arrival of Guests/ Registration

9:30 am   Arrival of YB Minister of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia

9:35 am   Welcome Remarks by Chairman, PATA Malaysia Chapter

9:50 am   Keynote Address by YB Minister of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia

 

10:15am   Coffee Break

 

10:50am  Panel Discussion 1 – Tourism Development Policies under

                AEC 2015 Getting ready for influx of tourists: Is Malaysia

                ready to welcome the likely influx of travellers in open

                borders?

 

               This panel will explore the role of policies and regulations

               and how it can facilitate the industry’s development as it

               begins in 2015.

 

Moderator: Datuk Dr Ong Hong Peng, Secretary General, MOTAC

 

Panelists: 

(i)    H.E. Le Luong Minh, ASEAN Secretary General  

(ii)   Representative from Immigration/ Secretary General of Ministry

       of Transport, Malaysia  

(iii)  Mr Eduardo Santander, Executive Director, European Travel

       Commission (ETC)                

(iv)  Mr Andrew Herdman, Director General, Association of Asia

       Pacific Airlines

 

11:50am Panel Discussion 2 – ASEAN Implementation Plan
               Regional cooperation:
               Will AEC help to see the emergence of new travel regions?

               How does ASEAN benefit to become a community based
               on three pillars: economic, political and socio-cultural?

               This panel will take a look at growing connectivity, crisis 
              management and recovery, multi-country thematic circuits,
              integrated products, and aligned accreditation.

 

Moderator: Ms Sharanjit Leyl (Presenter, BBC World News)

 

Panelists: 

 

(i)   Tan Sri Dr Munir Majid, Chairman of the CIMB ASEAN Research
      Institute

(ii)  Mr Klaus Geil, Head of Sector, External Aviation Policy,
      European Commission

(iii) Mr Tom Jenkins, CEO, European Tour Operator Association

(iv) Mr Alexander Kesper, Team Leader, ASEAN-EU Management
      Programme

(v) Mr Charlie Ballard, Director of Research, TripAdvisor

 

12.50 pm Luncheon

 

14.30 pm Panel Discussion 3:

                Embracing AEC New Opportunities ASEAN recognises

                the potential opportunities and challenges to the travel and

                tourism sector. This panel will discover the importance of

                regional partnership, branding, human capital development

                and sustainability in this rapidly growing Asia market.

 

Moderator: Mr Martin Craigs, CEO, PATA

 

Panelists:

(i)   Mr Rashid Hasbullah, Deputy Secretary General, MOTAC  

(ii)  Mr Lawrence Leong, Head of Singapore Tourism Board

(iii) Mr Pichai Raktasinha, Director for ASEAN, South Asia and South
      Pacific Market, Tourism Authority of Thailand                

(iv) Mr Rolando Canizal, Assistant Secretary, Department of Tourism
      Philippines  

(v) Mr Sam Cheah, President of Malaysian Association of Hotels

 

15:30 pm Closing Ceremony Closing Remarks Communique

16:30 pm High-Tea/Light Entertainment

18:30 pm End of Event