The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) is the most important and the largest-scale activity in the ASEAN tourism cooperation framework. The 8-day forum draws the participation of around 1,500 delegates including tourism ministers, leaders of national tourism offices, travel agents, tour operators and press corps, regional and worldwide. This is a big event of political, economic and social significances; a collective initiative aiming at turning ASEAN into a united tourist destination and at sustainable tourism development, thus contributing to visitor exchanges, friendly cooperation cultural exchanges and the development of peace and prosperity in the region. Vietnam is honored to be the host for ATF 2009.
For a long time, ATF, which is organized in another Asian country each time, has been the first international tourism event to start off the tourism year.
Situated on the Indochina Peninsula, with a diversity of topograpgy, climate and thousands of years of history, Vietnam pleases all tourists.
Striking mountain ranges, rivers, waterfalls, lakes, arid plateaus and dense forests are a magnet for hikers, cyclists and nature-lovers. With thousands of kilometers of fine sand beaches, rocky cliffs, coral reefs and deserted islands, water lovers have plenty to see and explore. Add the unique pinnacles of Ha Long Bay, the astonishing Mekong Delta, the classic terraces of the Northern Mountains and the ubiquitous vivid green of the rice fields, and even the most jaded visitors will recover the excitement of travelling.
The organizers are strongly confident that the ATF 2009, featuring the theme of “ASEAN Tourism – Striving for a new height”, a significant tourism event of the ASEAN Community taking place these days in the capital city of Hanoi, Vietnam, will be a firm span bridging all members in the ASEAN Tourism family, at the same time enabling tourism partners and stakeholders from the region and around the world to seek for business cooperative opportunities and market expansion, and to exchange matters of common interest, thus finding out effective solutions to deal with potential hindrances and challenges in promoting the development of regional countries to a new height.
With Vietnam being the host of the ATF 2009, participants will have the total commitment and support of its people in the organization of this prestigious forum, with the government of Vietnam looking forward to making the ATF 2009 the most successful event ever.
The Trade Exhibition for Tourism Travel Exchange (TRAVEX), open during the last three days of the forum, is the component of the ASEAN Tourism Forum providing an opportunity for tourism-related service suppliers in the member countries of ASEAN to meet up with travel producers from worldwide markets.
TRAVEX is unlike other official trade shows. It offers a closely controlled meeting place for both ASEAN-based sellers and travel buyers from around the world. TRAVEX features a set of structured, pre-arranged business appointments between buyers and sellers. The schedule of business appointments is monitored by the TRAVEX Secretariat to ensure order and efficency in the conduct of business in TRAVEX.
The Vietnam government has personally invited a press corp of 28 important media and tourism journalists from around the world to attend the forum. For the German-speaking market (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) the honorable minister selected and invited the online magazine “Tourism-Insider”, based in Berlin, as the only media from this area. Editor-in-chief Joachim Fischer acts as the exclusive observer.
Every year, the ATF is moving to another ASEAN Country. In January 2010, the host country will be Brunei Darussalam and the event will be held in the town of Bandar Seri Begawan from January 21 to 28.
Dear reader, in case you have any questions or require more information, please feel free to mail to: j.fischer@tourism-insider.com.
For a first impression about this year’s ATF host country Vietnam, please take a look at our pictures.
Joachim Fischer will provide us with more information during the next days, directly from ATF in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Joachim Fischer, currently in Hanoi, Vietnam
