With the theme “ASEAN: A Journey to Wonderful Destinations”, the ATF 2023 and the Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) trade fair will take place in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from February 2 – 5. Photo indonesia.travel

HÀ NỘI — A Vietnamese delegation is attending the 2023 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Indonesia, where they will promote their country as a desirable and open destination for tourists following the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement from the Vietnamese tourism authority.

The Vietnamese National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) reports that the country's participation in the ATF will provide an opportunity to support the tourism industry's reconnection with partners and markets, and help drive tourism recovery.

With the theme: "ASEAN: A Journey to Wonderful Destinations", the ATF 2023 and the Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) trade fair will take place in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from February 2–5.

Việt Nam's participation in the event will promote its tourism industry through a press conference to introduce the development, mechanisms, policies, services, market orientation and products suitable to the new normal situation after the COVID-19 pandemic.

It highlights the image of Việt Nam tourism with a logo titled "Việt - Timeless Charm" and a promotional campaign named "Live fully in Việt Nam".

Representatives from the ASEAN tourism authorities take a group photo at the ongoing ATF 2023 in Indonesia. — Photo vietnamtourism.gov.vn

The 57th ASEAN National Tourism Authority Meeting, the first activity within the framework of the ATF 2023, opened yesterday morning in Yogyakarta.

VNAT Deputy General Director Hà Văn Siêu, who is leading the Vietnamese delegation at the AFT 2023, attended the event.

Speaking at the meeting, the VNAT official expressed his pleasure that many countries in the region reopened tourism in 2022. He said this was a sign of the strong recovery of the region's tourism industry.

Speaking about Việt Nam's tourism situation, he said the country last year welcomed about 3.5 million foreign tourists and the ASEAN region was the leading market in terms of recovery speed.

VNAT Deputy General Director Hà Văn Siêu (front) leads the Vietnamese delegation at the AFT 2023. — Photo vietnamtourism.gov.vn

 ATF 2023 includes many important activities, such as the 22nd ASEAN Plus Three Tourism Ministerial Meeting, the 10th ASEAN-India Tourism Ministerial Meeting, the 2nd ASEAN-Russia Ministerial Meeting, the 57th ASEAN National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) Meeting, the 42nd ASEAN Plus Three NTOs Meeting, the 29th ASEAN-India Tourism Working Group Meeting; the 13th ASEAN- Russia Tourism Consultation Meeting, the ASEAN Tourism Award Ceremony, a press conference of ASEAN Tourism Ministers and many other sideline events.

The TRAVEX international tourism fair is one of the most important activities within the framework of ATF 2023, attracting the attention of international partners, businesses and visitors.

The fair will be a venue for exciting activities, such as exhibitions, product introductions, meetings with buyers and sellers, and seminars.

Việt Nam's pavilion at the TRAVEX fair covers an area of 54 square metres. The highlight at the pavilion will be communication activities about Việt Nam National Tourism Year 2023, themed "Bình Thuận – Green Convergence", the VNAT reported.

The ATF is the biggest annual tourism event in ASEAN region, and is a cooperative effort to promote the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as one tourist destination.

This annual event involves all the tourism industry sectors of the 10 member states of ASEAN: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Việt Nam.

Established in 1981, the event's main task is to promote the ASEAN region as a tourist destination where Asian hospitality and cultural diversity are at its best. Each year, the hosting of ATF is rotated among the member countries.

It will be attended by policymakers, tourism industry players, product suppliers and tourism-based services in the region.

The ATF includes dialogue between ministries of tourism, private sector, organisations, and travel exchange between ASEAN exhibitors and international buyers from major travel markets, according to a report on ATF website.

The main goals of the 2023 ASEAN Tourism Forum are to showcase ASEAN as an appealing single destination for tourists, raise awareness of its competitiveness in the Asia-Pacific region, increase the flow of tourists to ASEAN countries, encourage travel within ASEAN, and strengthen ties among ASEAN's tourism industry, according to the report.

The objective of the 2023 ASEAN Tourism Forum is to serve as a yearly gathering for the ASEAN tourism industry to exchange ideas, review industry developments, and make recommendations for growth. It also provides a platform for selling and buying tourism products from ASEAN member countries.

In 2019, 143.5 million international visitors visited the ASEAN region, accounting for 9.6 per cent of worldwide international visitors. The growth rate was 6.1 per cent, higher than the world's average growth rate of 4 per cent. VNAT reported.

In 2019, 2.1 million tourists from the ASEAN region visited Vietnam, making up 11.6 per cent of total international tourists. Cooperation within ASEAN is important for Việt Nam's international tourism efforts, as stated by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). VNS