PUTRAJAYA, 11 September 2014: With the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) to be implemented effective 1 January 2015, is our regional travel trade ready for it?

Covering 10 nations in South-East Asia (including Malaysia), the AEC-2015 aims to transform the region into a single market and production base with a highly competitive advantage to make it a stable and prosperous region. How will the AEC affect and impact tourism businesses in the region and in Malaysia?

Hub City Forum featuring the theme ‘AEC 2015 – Where is Tourism Heading?’ aims to answer this question!

PATA Malaysia Chapter (PMC) in collaboration with PATA Headquarters and supported by Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia (MOTAC) and TOURISM MALAYSIA, is taking the lead to shed light on this very important topic via the Hub City Forum featuring the theme ‘AEC 2015 – Where is Tourism Heading?’ The forum is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 15 October 2014 at The Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur and will be officially launched by the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia.

It will look at some of the issues faced by Malaysia in the making of the AEC and explore new paths of growth for the travel and tourism industry. Among the topics addressed are the policies and implementation of AEC and the opportunities and challenges for stakeholders. With ASEAN being the largest contributor with 19.1 million arrivals, representing a 74.3% share of the overall tourist arrivals to Malaysia in 2013, it’s a timely forum for those in the tourism fraternity. And, in line with the broad objectives of the National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) and Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan (MTTP) to increase yield per tourist, the forum will certainly address and shed light on the way forward.

The forum could very well be the “last call” to update stakeholders on this game-changing AEC. Tourism and hospitality players, airlines, transport operators, and those with business interests in the industry within this region should not miss this opportunity.
 
For registration, visit www.pata.org, or contact the PATA Malaysia Chapter (Mr. GP Subramaniam) at 019 339 3162 or email patamalaysia@gmail.com.

Background information:

PATA stands for the Pacific Asia Travel Association. It is an international membership association headquartered in Bangkok and is the world leader of, and authority on, Pacific Asia travel and tourism.  PATA’s mission is to enhance the growth, value and quality of Pacific Asia travel and tourism for the benefit of the members of PATA.

The PATA Malaysia Chapter or PMC is an extension of the association (PATA) to assist in translating the global objectives of PATA into local action within Malaysia through operating programmes and activities relevant to local communities, and also avail the facilities of PATA to all chapter members.

To date, PMC has a total membership of 83, comprising government sectors, airlines, educational establishments, hotels, tour & travel agents and other organisations and associations related to the tourism & hospitality industry.

ENDS

For more media releases, media info and media features on Malaysia’s tourism industry, kindly visit the Media Centre of Tourism Malaysia’s website at http://www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my/

MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD OR TOURISM MALAYSIA is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia at all levels. Since its inception, Tourism Malaysia has grown by leaps and bounds and it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. In 2013, Malaysia registered 25.7 million tourist arrivals and RM65.4 billion in receipts, making tourism its second largest foreign exchange earner and the sixth highest contributor to its Gross National Income (GNI).

Malaysia is celebrating its fourth VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR (VMY) in 2014 with the theme “Celebrating 1Malaysia Truly Asia”. The VMY 2014 promotional campaign has started in 2013 with a series of year-long special events and activities leading to VMY 2014. It will contribute to the Government’s target to receive 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in receipts by 2020, as outlined in the Tourism NKEA (National Key Economic Area).    

Through the Tourism NKEA, collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, other Government agencies and the private sector have been enhanced to help secure Malaysia’s position as a leading tourist destination. The targets set under the Tourism NKEA will be achieved through the implementation of twelve Entry Point Projects (EPPs) clustered under five themes: Affordable Luxury; Nature Adventure; Family Fun; Events, Entertainment, Spa and Sports; and Business Tourism.  

Press contact:
Media & Publicity Unit:
Azizah Aziz (Ms), Senior Deputy Director, Communications & Publicity Division
Tel: +603-8891 8752
Email: azizahaziz@tourism.gov.my

Editorial Unit:
Anis Rozalina Ramli (Ms), Senior Editor, Communications & Publicity Division
Tel: +603-8891 8759
Email: anisramli@tourism.gov.my