The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2019) officially opened in the evening of Jan. 16 in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh province.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Vice Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam emphasized the increasing important impact on tourism in ASEAN in particular and on socio-economic, cultural and political cooperation of the region in general. This event is a great opportunity for the ASEAN member countries, its strategic partners and international organizations to discuss measures for sustainable tourism development, enhancing cultural exchanges and friendship cooperation for the peace and mutual prosperity of the region and the world.
Under the theme ‘ASEAN – The Power of One’, the ATF 2019 focuses on six main issues. Specifically, by affirming and raising the awareness of promoting ASEAN as a competitive tourist destination in the Asia-Pacific region;the delegates will discuss specific proposals to allure tourists to the ASEAN member nations. Through tourism, the cooperation among different entilties in the ASEAN tourism sector would be enhanced.
Quang Ninh’s Chairman Nguyen Duc Long said that hosting the ATF 2019 is great chances for Quang Ninh to introduce to national and international visitors about the image of friendly Quang Ninh with unique cultural values and magnificient landscapes, especiallythe Ha Long Bay World Natural Heritage Site and Wonder. He hoped that with great efforts of Quang Ninh in preparing the best conditions, the ATF 2019 would be successful with fruitful outcomes.
The ATF 2019 takes place from Jan. 14-18. This is the biggest ever annual event of the ASEAN tourism. Each year, the hosting of ATF is rotated among the member countries. The forum withdraws the participation of around 2,000 delegates, including the Minister in charge of tourism of ASEAN and partner countries, international organisations and state management agencies in tourism in and outside the ASEAN region, tourism businesses, hotels, airlines, media agencies.
Its main activities include the ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meetings, ASEAN Tourism Conference, Travel Exchange (TRAVEX), ASEAN award ceremony and tours discovering Ha Long Bay and other attractions around the province, etc.
The closing ceremony of ATF 2019 will be combined with the closing ceremony of National Tourism Year 2018 - Ha Long - Quang Ninh, on January 18, 2019, at the Ha Long FLC Resort.
Article by Do Phuong-Thu Huong-Hoang Quynh
