During the period under review, a number of projects were approved by the ASC. A project which entails a study of New Zealand's experience in eco-tourism and conservation as a model for eco-tourism in ASEAN would be implemented under the ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue development cooperation. Another project to promote ASEAN tourism destinations to the Indian market and to reverse the present downward trend of arrivals into ASEAN countries was approved for implementation under the ASEAN- India Sectoral Dialogue relations.

Efforts to promote private sector participation in ASEAN tourism activities received a further boost when the NTOs, in its meeting in January 1995 in Bangkok, agreed to a proposal for a new Organisation for ASEAN tourism cooperation to comprise not only the NTOs but also the ASEAN private sector organisations involved in the tourism industry. At the operational level, promotion of private sector participation included an ASEAN-EU business-to- business development programme for tourism and the annual ASEAN tourism event - the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF). The ASEAN-EU project aimed at improving and creating opportunities for business cooperation between. ASEAN and the European Union private/commercial tourism sectors. Its approval was expected during the review period, after which it would be mmediately implemented. The ATF '95 was held from 6 to 10 January 1995 in Bangkok, Thailand, and saw the participation of 396 sellers from ASEAN and 405 buyers from all over the world, including the Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East. This year for the first time the buyers were participating on a self-financing basis, which indicated their seriousness in selling the ASEAN tourism product.

During its Informal Meeting on 9 January 1995 in Bangkok, Thailand, the ASEAN Heads of NTOs reviewed the status of the Fourth ASEAN Summit held in Singapore in January 1992 and agreed that in order to present a common position on issues pertaining to international and regional developments, and to mutually inform themselves of developments in their own countries, the ASEAN Heads of National Tourism Organisations would hold regular meetings on an informal basis during the ASEAN Tourism Forum to be held one day after the Opening Ceremony and that such meetings would be chaired by the host country ho would make the necessary preparations.

Finally, the NTOs, also in its meeting from 7 to 9 January 1995 in Bangkok, Thailand, agreed to extend the operations of the ASEAN Tourism Imformation Centre (ATIC), which expired on November 30, 1994, on a temporary basis until 31 March 1996. The continued operation of ATIC would ensure the smooth implementation of the on-going tourism cooperation projects.