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Regional tourism is set for an upswing in the next few months and will fare even better over the longer term.

Tung Chee-hwa (C), chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, talks to Francesco Frangialli, secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization, at the opening ceremony for the revitalizing Asian Tourism Conference in Hong Kong. [newsphoto.com.cn]

The optimistic forecast was issued yesterday at a major forum in Hong Kong on tourism in the region.

Although SARS has dealt a heavy blow to the world's travel industry, especially in Asia, the forum's leading speakers took a bullish stance by predicting a tourism comeback in the region by September or October.

Peter de Jong, president of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), who made the forecast, was even more upbeat about the industry's long-term future. China, with its strong economic growth, "will drive the future of travel in all neighbouring countries and much of the world,'' he said.

He said closer ties between China and Southeast Asia will increase travel within the region, which will have an economy worth US$2 trillion in the next decade.

The PATA president was referring to the proposed Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)/China Free Trade Area, which will cover a third of the world's population and is expected to tremendously boost intra-regional travel.

Intra-regional travel will become increasingly important in the Asia-Pacific region, boosted by economic and political co-operation in this part of the world, de Jong said.

On short-term prospects, Francesco Frangialli, secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization, was also optimistic, expecting a recovery in Asian tourism in the third or fourth quarter.

The forecasts came yesterday at the Revitalizing Asian Tourism Conference jointly organized by Boao Forum for Asia and the World Tourism Organization.

About 1,300 people participated in the event, which aims to boost confidence in tourism and strengthen co-operation in Asia and worldwide, Long Yongtu, secretary-general of the forum, told reporters yesterday.

SARS cost Asia's tourism industry about US$11 billion in the first two months of the outbreak, said Richard Gordon, secretary of tourism for the Philippines and chairman of PATA.

Frangialli said the sector, although hit by the global economic slowdown and terrorist attacks, has been "very resilient'' and has promising long-term prospects.

Gordon called for efforts to jointly promote Asia as a destination where travellers can make several stops to boost the sector.

Hong Kong Tourism Board is working with major Asian destinations to launch such promotions in long-haul markets such as the United Kingdom and North America, said Tung Chee-hwa, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government.

He said the SAR government is pressing ahead with major investments in tourism infrastructure over the next five years.

Tung said the government is keen to encourage private businesses to participate in Hong Kong's tourism expansion.

Investment in the tourism sector not only benefits Hong Kong, he said, but contributes to "making Asia as a whole more attractive as a tourist destination.''

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