Singapore's Goh focuses on region's travel and tourism history

By Nelson Alcantara l Special to eTN
Themed "Embracing ASEAN's Past and Together Shaping the Region's Future," this year's ASEAN Travel Forum (ATF) has given Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong the perfect venue to marvel on the history of the region's travel and tourism.

"Well before Marco Polo's travels to Asia became famous in the West, Southeast Asia was already the center of a thriving commercial emporium," Singapore's Senior Minister Goh said.  "China's Ming Emperor, Yong Le, dispatched Admiral Zheng He on a series of voyages that took him to Southeast Asia, the Arabian Peninsula and Africa, where Zheng He brought exotic animals, including giraffes, back to China.

By then, Indian and Arab merchants were already using well-established overland and trade routes in Southeast Asia, he said.  "Arab dhows, Chinese junks and European galleons sailed the Spice Route laden with exotic spices like cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg and other precious commodities," the minister said.

With travel and tourism trade flourishing, Minister Tong indicated that "Both the Silk Road and Spice Route became major conduits for the flow of people, ideas and religious beliefs between Asia and Europe."  He cited Chinese monk Xuanzang's epic journey in 7th Century AD from China to India along the Silk Road as an example.   "By the time of Xuanzang's travels, Buddhism and Hinduism were already well-entrenched in Southeast Asia.  Later, in the 13th Century, Muslim traders brought Islam.  Christianity arrived three centuries later, spread by Catholic missionaries."

The Singaporean minister then went on to describe modern day Southeast Asia travel and tourism and praised its rich cultural diversity.  "In no other region in the world can a traveler find such a diverse and comfortable mix of religions, cultures and cuisines," Minister Goh said, adding, "This is our common heritage.  This is also the unique strength of ASEAN, a strength we should build upon in promoting tourism."

In looking on what's ahead for Southeast Asia tourism, Minister Goh opined that ASEAN should find ways to tap China and India because they "have the greatest potential to fuel the growth of ASEAN's tourism industry."  The combined population of China and India comprises 40 percent of the global population.

The minister also emphasized the importance of a "good, reliable and affordable air connections within ASEAN, and between ASEAN and the rest of the world."   He said, "As connectivity within Southeast Asia increases, we have to brand and market the allure of ASEAN as a single destination.  ASEAN offers the traveler a very diverse experience in language, culture and religion, all within a few hours of each other."

Minister Goh also holds the distinction as Singapore's second prime minister.  He is among the many ministers from the Asian region attending this year's ATF, which is scheduled to run until February 3.

February 1, 2007   Posted in: Singapore