Asian travel and tourism officials committed themselves yesterday to combating the effects of terrorism and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus that have ravaged their industry.
Tourism officials have been particularly critical of sweeping travel advisories issued by governments warning against visiting countries hit by violence or disease.
Mr Richard Gordon, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), said: "We're going to say: 'Hey, you just cannot issue travel advisories for a long time'."
PATA's 52nd annual conference in Bali, where bomb blasts killed 202 people last October, focused on how to deal with the effects of unpredictable events, such as terror attacks and SARS.
SARS, partly spread by travellers, has infected 3,400 people and killed about 160 people.
Delegates from 42 countries in the Asia Pacific region said earlier in the week that PATA members must strengthen measures to restore confidence in the industry.
"Coming from a SARS-stricken country, I know that the industry is hurting. There is, however, no panic in Singapore," the country's ambassador-at-large, Mr Tommy Koh, told participants.
Transparency about the problem with the people and the media was part of the reason, he added. "This has reinforced my long-held belief that Asians should embrace the values of transparency, accountability and integrity," he said.
Mr Don Birch, of Abacus International, a leading Asian provider of travel services, said Bali had experienced a relative recovery. "Once the tourism industry partners in Bali showed the world that safety and security precautions were in place and government advisories were removed, travellers returned." - (Reuters)