Inflight Guide Asean [antikvár]

Southeast Asia has been my home for over 25 years, and I can't imagine a more unique and richly satisfying place in which to live. There is the appeal of a truncal climate, fascinating cultures, great food, unmatched hospitality and, of course, any number of wonderful places to visit Yet even after 25 years. Southeast Asia holds a special allure for me. And it remains one of the least 'discovered' travel destinations on earth. Included in this intoxicating destination mix is the world's largest archipelago, ancient temples and modem highrises, pristine beaches and rustic resorts, and as diverse a collection of peoples as can be found anywhere. The best travel experiences of the 1990s can be found in Southeast Asia, and it gives me and my colleagues, great pleasure to present Irfiighi Guide: ASEAN to you as a practical welcome gift. It will, I hope, be a source of interest, information and inspiration during this, and subsequent visits to the region. Few visitors are aware that ASEAN—the Association of Southeast Asian Nations—was formed in 1967 to foster cooperation in defense, culture, science and economics among its six member nations: Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Visit ASEAN Year 1992 is an example of the close working relationship between these countries. Indeed, Inflight Guide: ASEAN would not have been possible without help from the national airlines and tourist boards of all six ASEAN countries who, together with the book's many corporate sponsors, contributed greatly to the success of this project. Special thanks also go to the ASEAN Tourism Information Centre, the coordinating body of Visit ASEAN Year 1992. As publishers of Insight Guides—the most complete range of guidebooks available on the region—APA Publications has held a more than passing interest in the development of Southeast Asia as a travel destination. The 21st century now beckons invitingly and as the concept of a 'global village' appears closer to reality than ever before. Southeast Asia stands poised to meet the wave of tourism that is sweeping the world. The economic windfalls provided by tourism have been tempered, perhaps inevitably, by sociological and environmental concerns. The effects of mass tourism on local communities have not always been desirable, especially so in Southeast Asia, where a multitude of complexities and contradictions await the unenlightened traveler. Our goal as publishers since 1970 has been to reduce cultural barriers and create a better understanding of a place. We like to emphasize that the quality of a travel experience increases in direct proportion to the amount of basic knowledge a visitor has about a destination. Inflight Guide: ASEAN presents readers with a wealth of travel options and information, but it is only a modest starting point Encountering the unexpected is a distinct possibility, and one of the definite delights of traveling in ASEAN. Hans Hiifer Publisher APA Publiciilions