Opening Addresses
Organizer's Adress
Tetsuro Yamashita
President
Asia-Pacific Tourism Exchange Center (APTEC)
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. It is my great pleasure to welcome such a large audience to the APTEC International Tourism Exchange Symposium, with the theme: Local Culture and International Tourism. On behalf of the organizer, I would like to say a few words regarding this Symposium.
For this particular international symposium, the organizer, the Asia-Pacific Tourism Exchange Center (APTEC), has had extensive support from the Ministry of Transport, Osaka Prefecture, City of Osaka, WTO (World Tourism Organization), Japan Tourist Association, Japan National Tourist Organization, and Japan Association of Travel Agents. We are also honored to have celebrated tourism specialists here, both from Japan and abroad. It was two years ago, in 1995, that WTO, the sole international tourism organization, established an Asian regional office in Osaka; this office was the 19th international organization founded in Japan, and the second in the Kansai region. On that occasion, APTEC, a non-profit public corporation, was established with aims of supporting the WTO Regional Office and promoting tourism exchange in the Asia-Pacific region.
To date, APTEC has undertaken a number of studies and researches in the area of tourism, and organized several international meetings, seminars and symposiums. As a tourism-related event called "Tabi Fair" is now being held for the first time in Kansai, APTEC took this opportunity to concurrently hold this international symposium, with several guest speakers from Japan and abroad. The major objective of this Symposium is to reaffirm the roles of local and traditional cultures in vitalizing international tourism. Needless to say, tourism is deeply related to local and traditional cultures of respective localities, in addition to their scenic beauty and natural environmental features.
Today, we have a guest speaker from Indonesia, where Bali Island's traditional performing arts contribute greatly to attracting tourists to Indonesia from around the world. l believe that the case study of Bali Island will remind us the essence of international tourism, and stimulate us to reevaluate local and traditional cultures.
It is often said that the 21st century will be the "Asia's century"; I believe this to be especially true of tourism, since the Asian tourism industry is making a remarkable development. According to WTO forecasts, in 2010 Asia will attract the largest number of international tourists in the world, which the U.S. currently does. In almost all Asian countries, the number of inbound tourists now surpasses Japan's level, indicating that at least in tourism, other Asian countries are more advanced than Japan.
In other Asian countries, traditional local cultures are playing major roles in creating exciting images of the region, and are attracting international tourists. As well, traditional cultures unique to each locality play essential roles in local vitalization.
Meanwhile, in Japan, the Ministry of Transport has announced Welcome Plan 21, through which the Ministry plans to double the number of inbound tourists to Japan in the next decade. This Plan emphasizes the vital importance of international tourism promotion that makes effective use of local cultures.
During this Symposium, I sincerely hope that all participants will reconsider the essence of tourism, by listening to overseas success stories.
Today's Symposium comprises three parts. In the first part, a keynote lecture will be presented by Mr. Atsuro Kawauchi, cultural director and secretary-general of the Hanshin Cultural Promotion Council. I myself am very interested in hearing his unique views, which are greatly influenced by the cultural climate of the Kansai region.
In the second part, overseas guest speakers will present success stories in their respective countries. From Indonesia, we have Mr. Andi Mappi Sammeng, Indonesian Deputy Minister for Tourism and Director General of Tourism. From Korea, we have Dr. Seungdam Choi, Director of the Tourism Policy Research Department, Korea Tourism Research Institute. Finally, from the Philippines, we have Ms. Cynthia Lazo, Director of the Bureau of Domestic Tourism Promotion, Department of Tourism. All three guest speakers are very influential in policymaking in their countries; the success stories we are going to listen to are the fruit of their tremendous efforts.
In the third part, we will have panel discussions involving the three overseas guest speakers and other distinguished panelists. The discussions will be chaired by Professor Masatoshi Takada of Mukogawa Women's University.
I am sure that all these programs will satisfy today's participants, who I believe are eager to learn practical measures for community revitalization. I sincerely hope that these overseas success stories will demonstrate guidelines for community planning in your own locality.
At APTEC, we intend to support the WTO through the holding of various events, including international symposiums. In addition, we will strive to promote tourism exchange in the Asia-Pacific region. In these endeavors we could appreciate your continued support and cooperation. Thank you very much.
