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* Atleast Project Title is Required.
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Project No. |
TWG 02 2011A
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Project Title |
Connecting APEC - A Conference on Enhancing Tourism and Air Transport Connectivity in the Asia-Pacific Region
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Project Status |
Completed Project
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Publication (if any) |
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Fund Account |
APEC Support Fund
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Sub-fund |
ASF: General Fund
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Project Year |
2011
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Project Session |
Session 2
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APEC Funding |
91,000
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Co-funding Amount |
1,000
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Total Project Value |
92,000
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Sponsoring Forum |
Tourism Working Group (TWG)
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Topics |
Tourism
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Committee |
SOM Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation (SCE)
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Other Fora Involved |
Not Applicable / Other
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Other Non-APEC Stakeholders Involved |
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Proposing Economy(ies) |
Philippines
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Co-Sponsoring Economies |
Indonesia; Malaysia; Peru; Viet Nam; United States
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Expected Start Date |
08/07/2011
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Expected Completion Date |
31/12/2012
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Project Proponent Name 1 |
Alex M. Macatuno
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Job Title 1 |
Officer-In-Charge, Policy Formulation and Evaluation Division
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Organization 1 |
Department of Tourism
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Postal Address 1 |
Not Applicable
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Telephone 1 |
(632) 5242275
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Fax 1 |
(632) 5267657
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Email 1 |
ammacatuno@yahoo.com; ammacatuno@tourism.gov.ph
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Project Proponent Name 2 |
Not Applicable
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Job Title 2 |
Not Applicable
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Organization 2 |
Not Applicable
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Postal Address 2 |
Not Applicable
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Telephone 2 |
Not Applicable
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Fax 2 |
Not Applicable
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Email 2 |
Not Applicable
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Declaration |
Alex M. Macatuno
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Project Summary |
A key component of regional economic integration is the mobility of visitors from APEC and non-APEC member economies towards APEC destinations and within the APEC region. This mobility hinges on the state of international and regional connectivity—by air, land and sea. Air connectivity is the most crucial infrastructure to generate the volume of visitors. Studies have revealed that the state of air connectivity serves as one of the impediments to tourism growth.
The project aims to hold a conferenceon November 2011 in Manila, Philippines in order to closely align and integrate tourism and air transport policies on enhancing regional connectivity. The activity will serve as a venue for identifying specific areas for regional cooperation and integration of programs, projects, and initiatives that will address the chokepoints on tourism and air connectivity. Based on preliminary research and preparations, the conference will specifically discuss the following subjects:
1. Importance of Air Connectivity on APEC Tourism and Regional Integration
2. Impact of Air Services Liberalization on Tourism Growth: Progress in
Regional Air Services Integration and Country Experiences
3. Air Connectivity and Tourism: Role of Regulation
4. Air Connectivity and Tourism: Convergence of Business and Investment
ClimatePolicies
5. Air Connectivity and Tourism: Regulatory Cooperation
By demonstrating the benefits of air access liberalization on tourism growth and competitiveness, APEC will be able to adopt a more balanced and coordinated evaluation of available policy options.
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Relevance |
The APEC economic integration presents opportunities for member economies to develop competitive tourism sectors. At the same time, developments in tourism markets and country programs will strengthen regional connectivity, facilitate people mobility, and make APEC more attractive to APEC nationals and external markets.
The APEC Tourism Charter of 2000 establishes the promotion of an efficient regional economic integration through policy alignment and structural reform as one of its key policy goals. Thus, reducing barriers, enhancing competitiveness, building the capacity of the economies, promoting positive policies for the development of tourism, discouraging practices which havea negative impact on member economies and on the image of tourism, identifying emerging issues impacting upon tourism, and promoting environmental sustainability and cooperation are necessary.
Further, a key component of regional economic integration is the mobility of visitors from APEC and non-APEC member economies towards APEC destinations and within the APEC region. This mobility hinges on the state of international and regional connectivity—by air, land and sea. Air connectivity is the most crucial infrastructure to generate the volume of visitors. Studies have revealed that the state of air connectivity serves as one of the impediments to tourism growth. The global survey on travel and tourism competitiveness rankings reveal that developing economies still perform poorly in terms of the quality of their air transport network, air transport infrastructure and regulatory framework.There is disparity in terms of level of air connectivity among APEC member states and this is influenced by elements such as air services agreements, business and investment climate specifically taxes (i.e. discriminatory business and income tax practices) and charges (i.e. customs, immigration and quarantine overtime payments), and state of airport infrastructure. Developing economies seek to tap tourism as vehicle for poverty reduction and yet air transport-related policies are not aligned to such national vision and goals.
The project will serve as a venue for identifying areas for regional cooperation and integration of programs, projects, and initiatives that are oriented towards regulatory cooperation and convergence, capacity-building, and regional integration.The project will also serve as venue for consultations and identifying recommendations for the new APEC study – Creating Business Growth Opportunities for Travel and Tourism in the New APEC Economy–that the WTTC and PATA have agreed to undertake. The recommendations will be presented during the 40th APEC TWG and 7th Tourism Ministers Meeting, scheduled for August 2012 in Russia.Thus, the project will expedite and facilitate the development of a regional action plan for enhanced air connectivity that truly supports tourism growth. Such venue provides an opportunity for the tourism sector to achieve stronger representation in the formulation of aviation policies and reforms. By demonstrating the benefits of air access liberalization on tourism growth and competitiveness, and by identifying the impediments (such as tax regimes, passenger facilitation) faced by tourists, airlines and investors, APEC member economies will be motivated to pursue greater cooperation and convergence of policies.
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Objectives |
This conference aims to achieve the following objectives:
1) To exchange information on the more recent developments and issues in both tourism and air transport among APEC member economies and promote a common understanding o these issues.
2) To exchange and share experiences on policies, practices and processes in addressing the various regulatory issues and in coping with the impacts related to air services liberalisation.
3) To develop recommendations on joint tasks or work program for achieving greater integration and convergence of tourism and air connectivity policies for immediate and future cooperation among APEC member economies.
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Alignment |
APEC Leaders instructed Officials in the New Growth Strategy to “promote ecotourism, which is a driving force for business, employment, entrepreneurship, and SME development.” APEC Tourism Ministers during their 2010 meeting under the theme “Tourism for New Strategic Growth in the Asia-Pacific Region” recognized the importance of tourism, including the creation of jobs, reduction of poverty and conservation of the environment.
With this, the project is an important building block of the APEC Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP), which provides a framework for achieving tourism growth and prosperity in the APEC region.
Again, the project also builds on the APEC Tourism Charter of 2000 which established four key policy goals, namely:
1. Promote efficiency and regional economic integration through policy alignment and structural reform;
2. Promote better understanding and recognition of tourism as an engine for growth and prosperity in the APEC region;
3. Ensure inclusive growth in the travel and tourism sector by encouraging socially and culturally responsible tourism;
4. Develop travel and tourism businesses and destinations based on sound principles of sustainable tourism
Each presentation aims to present the progress of each sector in achieving regional integration, as well as identifying critical issues to aid the development of proposals and initiatives to address technical, regulatory, and policy issues.
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TILF/ASF Justification |
Most developing economies depend greatly on their tourism industry to propel their economy and provide income to their people. It has been a source of employment in these economies aside from the usual agriculture and manufacturing industry. However, most developing economies have been isolated and out of reach for most tourists or travellers due mainly to the lack of direct flights or air transport connectivity issues. These issues increase the costs and time of travel which not only dissuade visitors but also later lead to other economic problems.
The conference allows each member economies to present their progress in achieving regional integration, thus allowing the identification and summation of the critical issues in the region to aid the development of proposals for areas of cooperation and general action plans to address technical, and regulatory or policy issues.
Part of the activities during the said event will allow the review of existing air transport policies, provision of tourism reports and an update of the performance of tourism in the region, and identification of connectivity issues affecting tourism development in the region, which will all be useful to build the capacity of APEC economies.
Moreover, the Conference will provide a venue to explore the experiences of individual countries and/or destinations on how a good (or bad) quality of air transport network and connectivity enables (or hampers) tourism development and proposes opportunities for joint tasks for future and immediate cooperation among member economies.
Lastly, to fully generate and stimulate the exchange of knowledge and experience regarding connectivity in the Asia Pacific region, the target participants of the event includes members of the APEC Tourism Working Group, APEC Transportation Working Group, APEC Aviation Working Group, and representatives of industry stakeholders from the private and public sectors.Member economies will also be encouraged to invite representatives from institutions they deem necessary for the achievement of the Conference’s goals.
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Beneficiaries and Outputs |
The beneficiaries will include:
1. Tourism Working Group Representatives
2. APEC Transportation Working Group-Aviation Experts Group
3. Policy-makers and Private Sector and
4. International Bodies such as the ABAC, World Travel and Tourism Council
(WTTC) and Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
APEC Working Group Representatives are the primary beneficiaries of this project as they are the one responsible in drafting policies and projects concerning connectivity. Other policy-makers and members of the private sector who work in services that will help strengthen the connectivity within and outside the region are also among the target beneficiaries. The said beneficiaries will definitely be from the member economies and other stakeholders. An open approach will be taken to invite the participation also of the host economy.
The participants of the conference will benefit directly as they learn first-hand from the experts themselves regarding the field of transportation and tourism. Moreover, the private sector and even the civil society will benefit through the new understanding, learning and approach policy-makers and representatives from the member economies and organizations will have at the end of the conference.
Again, Member economies will be reminded and encouraged that only those whose expertise or work is related to the topic of this Conference shall be sent as representatives. This will be to ensure a valuable flow and exchange of expertise and for the desired output to be realized.
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Dissemination |
Participants will be provided with conference materials such as but not limited to, presentations, background materials and excerpts of agreements, and final report of the conference, including an evaluation report which is a consolidation of the participants’ evaluation. Workshop outputs will be made available to immediate beneficiaries, speakers, organizations, member economies upon suggestion and requests. Dissemination of the said documents will be subject to the APEC Publication Guidelines and copyrights.
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Gender |
The participation of women will be encouraged in all stages of the planning of the event, overseeing the conference and its implementation. Women are also encouraged to participate as speakers and participants. The Chair of the APEC Tourism Working Group is a woman. The project will be implemented in a manner sensitive to gender considerations and to ensure that it benefits both men and women, and of course, not disadvantageous to women. APEC’s Guide on Gender Criteria for APEC Project Proposals will be earnestly consulted and considered as a guide.
Member economies will be encouraged to be mindful of the project’s objectives vis-a-vis gender equality (i.e. selection of participants will be in a balanced way). Further, evaluation forms will include information on gender. Lastly, reports and outputs for the conference will be disseminated to both women and men.
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Work Plan |
March-April-May 2011: Proposal Development and Approval
Concept note and project proposal is prepared for approval by APEC.
The proposal was presented during the 38th APEC-TWG Meeting in Cebu, Philippines.
The APEC Secretariat and the project overseers jointly develop a preliminary programme as well as general information on the conference.Consultations with the private sector and other concerned industries.
June-July-August 2011: Preparation, logistics, administrative
Full project proposal is endorsed by the BMC.
The preliminary programme of the conference is circulated and member economies are invited to contribute experts, speakers and other resource persons in addition to participants.
Invitations for speakers and participants are prepared.
September-October 2011
Travel arrangements of speakers and participants are made and completed.
Preparations for the conference continue.
Speakers will submit their presentation materials and other materials for participants to read and prepare for.
November 2011: Implementation
The conference is held in Manila, Philippines.
· At the end of every presentation for each theme, an open forum and break-out session will be conducted.
December 2011: Post-conference reporting
The final report of the conference is prepared and submitted.
The report of the conference is posted on the APEC website together with conference materials.
Participants will share knowledge and expertise obtained at the conference with their governments and organizations.
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Risks |
Time constraints in the preparation for the event will be the main risk but this will be alleviated by inviting key speakers and experts who are known for the quality of their work, efficiency in creating their outputs and grace under pressure in meeting deadlines. Speakers will be constantly reminded for the timely submission of their presentations so as not to cause any delay to the conference. Target participants will be informed in advance of what will be discussed during the conference to ensure that the most appropriate representatives will attend.
Philippines as a venue for the said conference may be an issue for some of the APEC member economies as it is quite far from their countries and concerns on air connectivity may be raised as airfare is also quite expensive. However, delegates will be informed that the airfare of eligible economies will be shouldered and assured that their stay in the host country will be worthwhile. Also, this is the best opportunity for countries to realize how big an issue air and transport connectivity is as they will also experience its effects themselves.
The tentative proposed date will not be on the margins of another meeting so there may be concerns on the attendance. However, the importance of the said conference will be reiterated to the different beneficiaries to raise their enthusiasm in attending the vent. Further, it not being held separate from any other meeting provides the necessary focus for the conference and it will allow the beneficiaries to concentrate only on the issues brought by air transport connectivity.
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Monitoring and Evaluation |
Evaluation forms will be given to the participants after the conference to gather feedback on the quality and usefulness of the conference’s content. In the long term, it is expected that after the conference, steps in addressing issues of connectivity will be undertaken. Results will be measured by how much more agreements on connectivity, flight schedules and transportation services were started, strengthened and/or on-going since the conference ended. It may also be suggested that a committee or a system of reporting be created to update the participants of the trends or changes in the industry. For cost-effectivity, reports may be part of the agenda for the next Working Group meetings.
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Linkages |
The beneficiaries of the project will include Tourism Working Group Representatives, APEC Transportation Working Group-Aviation Experts Group, policy-makers, Private Sector and International Bodies such as the ABAC, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). They will also be tapped as key experts to provide assistance through their presentations and involvements as participants. An open approach will be taken to inviting participation from other concerned international bodies dealing with the subject.
With this, aside from the Tourism Working Group, there will also be representatives from the Transportation Working Group and private sector from the air transportation industry. Member economies will be encouraged to invite representatives of institutions concerned in tourism, air and transport connectivity.
The Philippine Department of Tourism requested the Philippine Department of Transportation and Communications, which represented the country in the 34thAPEC Transportation Working Group Meeting, to include this project proposal in their talking points and to ask the Group to disseminate this information. Further, assistance in greeting resource persons and participants was also sought.
Lastly, WTTC and PATA will both be given an opportunity to discuss issues and impediments in APEC tourism growth during the Conference proper and tap the activity as venue for consultations and identifying recommendations for the new APEC study on Creating Opportunities in Travel and Tourism in the new APEC economy.
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Some of the member economies of APEC are ASEAN member states and are already taking part in the aim of ASEAN for an open sky policies among its members. It may be argued that the idea creating this conference was built on the said project but also, the latest developments in the proposing country’s tourism industry is also relevant to point out (e.g. passing of Executive Orders to open Philippine skies).Moreover, on September 2009, ADB published a working paper regarding air connectivity in the archipelagic Southeast Asia which also discusses the importance of improved air connectivity through an improved air transport links. In May 2009, an APEC Supply Chain Connectivity Symposium was conducted in Singapore which identified various choke points impeding the smooth flow of trade in goods and services. This activity will build on the chokepoints and action agenda of under the APEC Connectivity framework and the action plans of the APEC-Aviation Experts Sub-group and the APEC Tourism Working Group.
In comparison to the abovementioned previous initiatives, the conference will cover a bigger market and invite more participants that may produce a bigger impact in the areas of connectivity.
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APEC is the fora for 21 member economies, from different level of economic development and location in the world. It also prides in having Macao, China as an observer and two (2) worldwide associations for tourism as a member. It does not only have a working group for tourism but also a working group on transportation which both embraces the goals and theme of this activity.
APEC is the organization that understands the junction between tourism and the economy. Thus, if the conference will succeed, it will generate more funds to the economies of the APEC members which will further increase the money circulating in the region and into the APEC funds.
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Sustainability |
The conference is proposed with a long-term goal in mind. The outcomes of this project are not expected to happen overnight nor be felt immediately. It is understood that developments in air and transport connectivity will need some time before it will have its effects. Member economies, specifically, will have to align the learning they will get from the conference with their national policies. Private sectors will have to research on how this will benefit their interests. The lessons they will get from this project will definitely be carried forward in the future policies and actions the participants will take.
It is , again, suggested that reports regarding the developments that will occur after the conference be provided as part of the agenda for the next working group meetings. In this way, this will also provide a tool for the monitoring and evaluation of the event.
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Project Overseers |
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Cost Efficiency |
The proposed project budget includes a small quantum of funds to cover some of the types of expenses, largely as a risk mitigation strategy. Implementing this project ensures maximum attendance by relevant APEC representatives involved in the management of air and transport connectivity as well as policy makers since expenses for the speakers and some Member Economies will already be shouldered..
Moreover, the cost of the conference is relatively very low compared to what its output will entail once issues on connectivity will be addressed. The free flow of money, people and investment that connectivity will create will provide maximum value for money.
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Drawdown Timetable |
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Direct Labour |
A contractor will be paid.
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Waivers |
Advance payment is requested to fund travel of speakers and participants from eligible economies, and to pay room rental to the hotel upon their request.
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Are there any supporting document attached? |
No
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Attachments
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