Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will spearhead the 1st ASEAN Tourist Guides Contest 2011 (ATGC 2011) as a form of the country`s support as ASEAN chairman.

"It is part of Indonesia`s tourism promotion effort in the eyes of tourist guides in all ASEAN countries," Ministry of Tourism`s Director General of Tourism Destination Development, Firmansyah Rahim, said here on Wednesday.

He said the objective of organizing the 1st ASEAN Tourist Guides Contest 2011 was to rediscover quality standard, knowledge, skills, and good attitude as tourist guides in carrying out their tasks properly and professionally.

Besides, the objective is also to get a professional and competent guide who can be a model in supporting tourism sector at ASEAN level.

"Through this event we want to improve mutually-beneficial cooperation among ASEAN member countries to prepare the guides as qualified human resources," Firmansyah said.

He said the contest was also expected to produce ASEAN guides management through Southeast of Asia Tourist Guide Associations (SEATGA) organization.

The organization also supports tourism development in respective countries and accommodate ASEAN countries tourism interest in a game of international tourism.

"We hope this contest can unite and strengthen friendship among the guides from ASEAN countries," Firmansyah said, adding that they could exchange knowledge and experience.

Firmansyah said that as the initiator of ATGC 2001, Indonesia would take greater advantage from the event.

According to him, procedures of the contest have already been standardized through several official meetings, both at ASEAN Tourism Working Group Meeting in Vietnam, and in ASEAN NTO`s Meeting in Laos several months ago.