Many speak of economic and geopolitical doom and gloom. But the secretary general of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) acknowledges that the ASEAN tourism sector as the bloc has great potential to flourish. In his remarks at the opening ceremony of the 15th ASEAN Tourism Forum in Manado, North Sulawesi last January, UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rifai says that Asia’s share of international tourism by the year 2030 will grow from 20 to 30 percent. “And the good news is … [Read more...]
Mari Elka Pangestu: Boosting Creativity
Tourism sector is a fertile environment for entrepreneurship. In the case of Indonesia, it has the potential to grow small and medium businesses and to better position the country on the world’s economic map, according to Mari Elka Pangestu. “Indonesia needs market diversification to anticipate the decreasing number of tourists from the West, mainly impacted from the unfavorable economic conditions in European countries and the United States,” Mari Elka Pangestu, the newly elected Minister of … [Read more...]
ASEAN Tourism Potential for Economic Growth
Secretary General of UNWTO (the United Nations World Tourism Organization) Taleb Rifai expressed his optimism that the tourism sector is one of the big potentials for ASEAN countries to boost their economic growth. Speaking in front of a group of journalists at the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2012, which is taking place in Manado from January 8 to 15, Rifai said he was delighted that UNWTO has developed a strong relationship with ASEAN. To help ASEAN countries realize such a propitious potential … [Read more...]
