STRATEGIC PLAN OF ASEAN TOURISM NEED TO BE STUDIED

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- The proposed 2011-2015 Strategic Plan of Asean
Tourism need to be carefully studied, especially that which involves workers,
before implementing said Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen.

Ng said the freedom in the 'migration' of workers and specialised workers in the
tourism sector, involves various aspects of immigration procedures and security.

She said if the proposal was to be implemented, discussions need to be held with
a number of ministries to ensure the best possible way to carry out such a
proposal smoothly.

"We need feedback, views and approval from the Human Resource ministry and Home
ministry. This involves how long those involved will be staying in a chosen
country, who are eligible (freedom of migration) because it is related to
foreign workers," she said in Serdang near here Sunday.

The agreement is expected to facilitate the movement and use of skilled labour
among Asean member countries as well as promoting tourism within the block.

The proposal is expected to be discussed during the Asean Tourism Forum which
started in Phnom Penh Saturday and expected to end on Jan 21.

"The objective of Asean countries is to jointly promote tourism through a
combined resource initiative but it will be a difficult plan to implement since
different countries have different policies on foreign workers," she said.

Asean members countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

-- BERNAMA