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Visa Exemption for Travel to All 10 Asean Countries
Asean nationals will be able to travel to all 10 Asean countries without the need to get a visa by the end of this year.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said all Asean member countries had agreed on visa exemptions for intra-Asean travel by Asean nationals to promote travel within the region.
“This will be fully effective by the end of the year. Of course, we cannot downplay the security requirements of the respective member states. However, in the spirit of Asean, I believe we can work together to create means by which we can address these concerns and at the same time ensure visa-free intra-regional travel,†said Abdullah whose speech was read out by Tourism Minister Datuk Dr Leo Michael Toyad at the opening of Asean Tourism Forum at Dataran Lang here.
He also said Asean could be marketed as a combined mega destination for the budget conscious or those coming from afar.
“Not only should it be a worthwhile experience in terms of sights and sounds, it should also present more value for the time and money invested in one trip,†he added.
“Individually, we may embark on our own country's promotions. But Asean as a single tourism entity should also not be overlooked or underestimated."
“To prepare for this, tourism planners need to develop better products and enhance the integration of tourism services. The benefits of this extra effort could well outweigh the costs,†Abdullah said.
He said Asean could gain much by being more connected and by making travel within the region easier, not just for Asean nationals but also for travellers the world over.
He said Asean countries should be proponents of the “prosper thy neighbour†principle instead of operating individually most of the time.
“If we help our neighbours to prosper, we too will prosper along with them. At the same time, a prosperous and interconnected Asean is a strong contributing factor to the security of South-East Asia and the rest of the world,†he added.
Those present at the opening ceremony were also told to observe a minute of silence in remembrance of those who had lost their lives, were injured and those who were still unaccounted for following the Dec 26 tsunami.
Langkawi 26/01/2005
