Over 300 representatives from the travel industry, governments,
border management agencies and international organizations will
meet in Bangkok next week (5th-7th June) to discuss how better data
management can facilitate travel and reduce risks, at a time when
passenger numbers are soaring.

Passenger traffic in Asia-Pacific grew by almost five per cent
in 2009, the last year for which data is available, set against a
worldwide slump of almost two percent. This explosion in travel in
the region poses a huge challenge for governments, immigration
authorities, airlines, airports and travelers alike. 

The 2nd Conference of Technical Cooperation and Capacity
Building for Border Management, organized jointly by IOM and the
Asia Pacific Smart Card Association (APSCA) will share
state-of-the-art pre-departure data collection solutions. Delegates
will also discuss the safety and national security challenges
implicit in this welcome boost for trade and
tourism.  

Conference speakers will include IOM Director General William
Lacy Swing and senior representatives of the Royal Thai Government,
ASEAN, the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship
(DIAC), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the UN
Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, INTERPOL and the World
Customs Organization.  

For more information please contact

Joe Lowry

IOM ROAP in Bangkok

Tel. +66 81 870 8081

Email: "mailto:jlowry@iom.int">jlowry@iom.int