Vietnam is participating in the 26th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Singapore from January 29 to February 3, 2007, showing willingness to join hands with regional countries for tourism development.
Now in its 26th year, ATF is the largest ASEAN tourism showcase. The annual forum includes meetings of ASEAN Tourism Ministers, Heads of National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) and industry associations, the travel mart - TRAVEX and the ASEAN Tourism Conference.
During the event, participants discuss measures to promote tourism in the region, build joint ASEAN tourism standards, draw more investment in the field, and especially to deal with shortcomings and weaknesses facing regional tourism development.
“We are very excited to host ATF 2007,” Dayne Lim, Coordinating Regional Director (International Group), Singapore Tourism Board and Deputy Chairman of the ATF 2007 Singapore Host Committee said, adding that this is a chance for countries to advertise their tourism images and potential as well as for the region generally to make itself a destination for the world.
Addressing the forum, Hoang Tuan Anh, vice Head of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) introduced the government policy on tourism as well as achievements the country has gained over the past years. He pledged Vietnam will actively contribute to ASEAN tourism development.
Commenting on participation in this year’s travel fair (TRAVEX) held during the ATF, organizers said “We are pleased to see such a strong interest this year from both sellers and buyers. For the sellers, it goes to show how important the ATF is as a platform to showcase the diversity of ASEAN’s tourism product offerings to an international audience. For the buyers, we are seeing more participation from those outside ASEAN – an indication of the region’s collective attractiveness as a destination to visitors from outside ASEAN.”
ASEAN is now considered one of the regions with the most dynamic tourism industry in the world. Tourist arrival rates in the ASEAN countries is more than twice that of the world average.
In 2006, ASEAN nations welcomed more than 56.4 million tourists from outside, up 8.18 per cent against 2005. It is estimated that by the year 2010, ASEAN will welcome 72 million foreign visitors.
Launched in Malaysia in 1981, the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) is a cooperative regional effort to promote the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region as a single tourist destination.
This annual event which is rotated among the ASEAN member countries involves all tourism industry sectors of the 10 member nations of ASEAN: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Vietnam will host the 28th ASEAN Tourism Forum in 2009. (The People)
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