PRESS RELEASES

The 11th Meeting of the ASEAN Plus Three Tourism Ministers

27th January, 2012

The 11th Meeting of the ASEAN Plus Three (Japan, China and the Republic of Korea) was held in Manado, Indonesia, and H.E. Mr. Ken OKUDA, Senior Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, attended the meeting.

In the meeting, Mr. OKUDA stated that tourists can enjoy traveling in Japan under the drastic recovery from the damage by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Japan is pleased to continue and deepen tourism cooperation with ASEAN.

The Ministers adopted the Joint Media Statement including;

- Despite global economic slowdown in some major markets, the international tourist arrivals in ASEAN Plus Three countries in 2011 remained resilient and intra-ASEAN+3 travel was still the important source market for the whole region.

- The Ministers were pleased with Japan’s steady recovery from the damages caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, and expressed their appreciation to Japan for the support in tourism sector.

- The Ministers highly valued Japan’s cooperation on ongoing efforts for expansion of “Open Skies” with ASEAN countries.

- The Ministers agreed that they would continue the efforts for preparing a Memorandum of Cooperation on ASEAN Plus Three tourism cooperation.

Besides Multi-lateral meeting, Mr. OKUDA had bi-lateral meetings with Ministers from Indonesia, Singapore and India. He also exchanged views with other participant countries on the occasion of side events. These activities led to the closer relationship with tourism authorities of ASEAN+3 countries and India.