Australia reaffirms Asean ties, PH misses out

Barely on the radar

“Australians often aren’t aware of the Philippines as a tourism or business destination,” Tamerlaine Beasley told

Times. She is a consultant for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and she is the founder and managing partner of Beasley Intercultural, a - tralians learn the business culture in Asia. She will be the master of the special summit this week.

She added, “It’s a slow process educating the Australian community about Southeast Asia, and we are all doing our best. I doing a lot.”

When Australians look to do business in Asia, they naturally look at China, Japan and India

- countries were on its list of the top 15 bilateral trading partners. The Philippines is not on the list.

trade between Australia and the bigger export markets than this country. Australia exports about A$2.4 billion (about P97.9 billion) worth of goods to the Philippines, and imports only about A$ 771 million ( P31.5 billion) from this country, according to

Beasley said that the Philip - motions, including tourism.

In a meeting in Sydney with Asean journalists including one from , Beasley explained that Thailand, for instance, far outspends the Philippines in tourism promotion. She added paying off, with about a mil -

- sia, Thailand and Singapore are and associated airlines,” Beasley a huge increase in Australian tourism there.”

She was not aware that the Philippine budget airline Cebu and has been spending money there on promotions.

In terms of sunshine industries in the Philippines, Beasley mentioned the business process outsourcing or BPO sector.

“Australians are interested in BPO, but there needs to be a lot of education for the market in Australia to understand how ex Beasley told TheTimes.

The Philippines is not exactly starting from nothing.

Amanda Gorely, Australia’s ambassador to the Philippines, said that there were some 280 here, many of them in the BPO sector and in mining.

Like Beasley, the ambassador told TheTimes that the Philippines could do more to promote tourism, as more Australians were drawn to Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia.

When it comes to the Philippines, Gorely said that Australians’ knowledge about the

She told TheTimes, “I was not surprised about the people, - they are.”

“I was surprised at how many places you could see,” she said, and Coron, Palawan, were the best for her so far.

Loving the islands

Lisa Butson, an Australian who recently graduated from college, said, “It is true that many Australians choose to holiday in Thailand and Indonesia, but I did not want the typical experience in Asia.”

Instead, she spent a semester Plan fellow.

Colombo Plan as way to increasing people- to- people linkages between Australia and the Asean member states. Under that program, students from Asean are Australian students also get to go While not many of them go to the Philippines, there are some, like Butson, who do.

“I chose the Philippines, because I wanted to experience something different,” Butson told TheTimes.

“In terms of attractions there ( in) the Philippines,” she said. around the country during my time. From Bohol, Palawan and Cebu in the south, to Vigan, and Banaue and Sagada in the north, the country is truly breathtak - nila and around Intramuros.”

Butson said the Philippines was “Anyone who hasn’t tried ado

bo or lechon or halo-halo really needs to,” she said. “I don’t think I can say the same for balut.”

- joyable experiences than trying that Southeast Asian delicacy,

and I don’t think I was prepared Philippines,” Butson told The

Times or me from returning.”

“I would like to add that I truly - ippines,” she added. “I think of it as a second home. The people are the most generous and hospitable

Missing out again

If there are others like Butson much, President Duterte will miss that.

TheDiplomat region, recently reported, “The absence of Duterte presents a missed opportunity not just for the Philippines but also for Asean as whole.”

The report on its website also the conference as an opportunity strengthening cooperation with its neighboring states through Policy White paper published participation of the Philippines critical due to both state’s share between its people.”