The development of regional tourism in Southeast Asia through cooperation is advocated not only due to that fact of achieving self-sufficiency but also to advance exchange of ideas and international trade within this region that could be implemented by constituting a unique tourism organization. Unlike other economic sectors, Southeast Asian tourism industry experiences a significant lack of tourism experts. Therefore, it is proposed that a Southeast Asian Tourism Experts Association (STEA) need to be formed. It would operate as a “think tank organization”- being the centre-portal for experts of various skills mandatory for regional tourism development to work closely with each other for achieving greater economic benefit. Along with other activities, research programmes and consultancies would be a part of its activities.
Industrial linkages should be integrated and financial leakages in the form of import leakages or employing foreign experts (particularly by multinationals) arising from tourism development is to be minimised for the greater interest of Southeast Asian regional economies. Governments, the private sector, other stakeholders should work together in formulating policies and strategies to enhance the economic impacts to be felt at all levels of the economies. The importance of collaboration among stakeholders is also supported by the literature of (Wong et al., 2011a, 2011b).