Padang, W Sumatra - All sides engaged in the tourism sector in West Sumatra were expected to take part in the 1st South East Asia Tourist Guides Association Congress in Padang from May 30 to June 2, 2008, to promote the potential tourist attractions and destinations in the province.

"This is a good opportunity to enhance the promotion of West Sumatra tourism especially that tourist guides are in direct contacts with tourists, and there would be a direct exchange of information about the tourist potentials in the province," Eddie Novra, head of West Sumatra Tourist Guides Association told Antara here on Wednesday.

Tourist guides from 10 ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) member countries would attend the congress, Eddie said, adding that the president of the World Federation of Tourist Guides Association and tourist guides from the 33 provinces in the Indonesia would take part in the event.

According to him, the congress would also provide inputs for the 13rd World Tourist Guides Association Congress scheduled in Bali in January 2009.

In addition, a seminar on world tourism in facing global warning and Eco Tourism issues would be held during the congress, said Eddie, who is also the event's organizing committee head.

The congress participants were also scheduled to plant 1,000 seedlings in arid forests in Sawahlunto district.

ASEAN groups Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. .