Bandar Seri Begawan
– The ASEAN-Korea Centre (Secretary General Kim Young-sun), an
intergovernmental organization mandated to promote economic and
socio-cultural cooperation between ASEAN Member States and Korea,
together with the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) of
Brunei, will organize the 'ASEAN Community-based Tourism Program' under
the theme of 'Youth Fostering Sustainable Tourism Development in Brunei
Darussalam on 17-23 August 2016. A total of 22 university students from
ASEAN and Korea will experience activities related to the sustainable
development of the rural and eco-tourism at Seri Tanjung Homestay, which
was awarded the ASEAN Homestay Standards Award in 2016.
*Community-based
Tourism (CBT) is a form of tourism that seeks to empower communities to
manage tourism growth and achieve community aspirations relating to
their well-being, and includes economic, social and environmental
sustainable development.
The opening
ceremony was officiated by Yang Mulia Dr Awang Haji Abdul Manaf bin Hj
Metussin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Primary Resources and
Tourism. Also present during the Opening Ceremony was the Secretary
General of ASEAN Korea Centre, His Excellency, Mr Kim Young-Sun and the
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea in
Brunei Darussalam His Excellency, Mr Cho Win Myung,
ASEAN
Community-based Tourism Program was designed to enhance understanding
of the ASEAN and Korean youth on sustainable tourism development of
ASEAN as well as to encourage youth-driven development of creative and
implementable ideas to enhance the experience of the CBT in Brunei
Darussalam. 10 ASEAN students and 12 Korean students will participate in
hands-on cultural experiences such as traditional games, kite making,
local fishing, boat race, cooking traditional cuisine, volunteer
activities such as tree planting and environmental conservation
activities, homestay at water villages, and have the opportunity to
explore the pristine nature of Ulu Temburong National Park.
Participating students will be given assignments to make a presentation
based on their experience throughout the program, which include
suggestion of new and creative ideas on further development of CBT. In
order to promote the CBT practices targeting the Korean public,
promotion assignments such as Social Media Network promotion with
pictures and videos from their experiences will be also given.
In January 2016, ASEAN Tourism Ministers adopted the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2016-2025
of which strategic direction and actions put weight on development of
CBT clusters and implementation of the ASEAN Community-based Tourism
Standards. In line with the ATSP 2016-2025 as well as efforts
by ASEAN in extending and implementing CBT program, the ASEAN-Korea
Centre has organized the ASEAN CBT program since 2015. Last year, this
program was hosted in Malaysia in which 21 Korean university students
enhanced their understandings on CBT through activities including
experiencing local cultures, traditional lifestyle, and volunteer
activities.
H.E. Kim Young-sun,
Secretary General of the ASEAN-Korea Centre noted that the success of
the ASEAN Homestay Program in 2015 and in line with the ATSP 2016-2025,
the ASEAN-Korea Centre is organizing the ASEAN Community-based Tourism
Program this year. He also wished that the Program can offer the
participating youth to experience ASEAN CBT as well as authentic
cultures of Brunei, and develop their creative and implementable ideas
which would contribute to further enhancing sustainable tourism
development of Brunei Darussalam.