Vietnam to Host 2009 ASEAN Tourism Forum
Vietnam is expected to host the 2009 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2009) and ASEAN Tourism Ministers' Meeting from January 5-12, 2009, state media said.
The event will include a meeting of tourism working groups with experts and senior officials of tourism agencies of ASEAN countries; a meeting between ASEAN Tourism Agencies, ASEAN and partners; ASEAN Tourism Ministers meeting, ASEAN and partners.
Besides, a tourism fair, Travex, with 450 booths showcasing the tourism industry of ASEAN countries, and a tourism conference will be held.
Through meetings, participants will work out a plan to implement the ASEAN Tourism Agreement, discuss orientations for cooperation, and implement the roadmap on regional integration in ASEAN towards the goal of building the ASEAN tourism community by 2019.
About 1,500 people, including ministers, heads of national tourism agencies, businesspeople and reporters, are expected to attend the event.
Vietnam, the sun warm Southeastern Asian nation, welcomes more than 860,000 foreign tourist arrivals in the first two months of 2008, up 5 per cent on-month and 15 per cent on-year.
The country hopes to attract 5 million foreign tourists and serve 21 million domestic holiday makers to yield VND64 trillion (US$4 billion) in 2008.
The tourism sector now contributes 8 per cent to Vietnam’s national GDP. (VNA)
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