Officials with the Association of South East Asian Nations, or ASEAN, indicate that member nations must lower airline ticket prices and apply a universal visa policy to build a single market like the European Union.

This is to stimulate the aviation industry and tourism, and to attract more tourists from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong.

As the region's pillar industry, tourism has earned nearly US$28 billion for the 10 ASEAN members, and they are planning to construct a single market in Asia by 2020.

The officials say that ASEAN members' abundant advantages in tourism are being limited by marketing, and lack of transportation contacts between the members. ASEAN needs to reduce the cost of air transport so that more people can afford to travel.

What's more, messy visa applications and the lack of a coordinated visa policy are problems that need immediate attention. 

(CRIENGLISH.com November 29, 2004)