FATA unveils series of initiatives for ASEAN tourism

Tourists at Kuang Si waterfall in Luang Prabang, Laos

The Federation of ASEAN Travel Associations (FATA) will roll out a new joint marketing campaign among other initiatives in 2H2019 to promote South-east Asia to the world, shortly after its president assumed concurrent leadership at ASEANTA.

Mingkwan Metmowlee, president of FATA, shared at the recent FATA Convention 2019: “A joint marketing campaign will be launched with ASEAN Hotel & Restaurant Association (AHRA) and the ASEAN Airlines Association to create competitively priced packages in ASEAN, by land, air and cruise for intra-ASEAN travel and overseas travel.

Tourists at Kuang Si waterfall in Luang Prabang, Laos

“Visitors who purchase these packages will be required to visit a minimum of three countries and stay at least two nights in each country. There will be Silver, Gold and Platinum packages, incorporating three-, four- and five-star hotel accommodation respectively. The land and sea packages are expected to be launched in August and will be marketed through the ASEAN NTOs, participating airlines and on FATA website.”

Mingkwan shared that FATA is also in talks with two cruise companies to launch new itineraries around the region.

The second initiative involves collaboration with the 10 ASEAN NTOs to test and promote new products for the intra-ASEAN, medium and longhaul markets.

FATA members from different markets will be invited on fam trips to evaluate the products for their respective segments and provide feedback for improvement. And while they are in ASEAN, they will be invited to attend B2B networking and business sessions.

Mingkwan said: “We can do this every two months in a different destination. We have confirmed the first fam trip to be in the Philippines this July, and the next one might be in Cambodia.” Destinations will be proposed by FATA members.

Another initiative kicking off in 2H2019 will put forth service standards for travel agents, equipping them with the know-how on catering to tourists with disabilities.

FATA aims to approach Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau and NTOs from other ASEAN countries to get funding for this project. The association will also work with the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence to design the course.

Mingkwan was elected as the new president of ASEANTA at the recent annual general meeting held in Kuala Lumpur. She said being president of both ASEAN tourism associations is also a good opportunity for further collaboration on such projects.

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