QUẢNG NINH — The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2019) officially starts today in Hạ Long City, the northern coastal province of Quảng Ninh.

Under the theme ‘ASEAN – The Power of One’, delegates will discuss orientations for tourism development and propose sustainable tourism initiatives to promote ASEAN as a tourist destination.

Nguyễn Trùng Khánh, head of the Việt Nam National Administration of Tourism, stressed that tourism was a central part of ASEAN member nations’ socio-economic development. By promoting ASEAN tourism, countries could improve common understanding, preserve cultural values and accelerate bilateral and multilateral co-operation within the region and in the world.

Under the framework of ATF 2019, travel agencies, trade delegates, members of the media, sellers and buyers of regional and individual tourism products of ASEAN member nations will gather at TRAVEX – the world’s largest ASEAN destination, product and service showcase.

Up to 610 companies from Việt Nam and ASEAN will be in attendance, while buyers are expected from 32 countries and territories, mostly Europe.

“The presence of international media at TRAVEX will attract more tourism to the region and help enterprises close deals. Co-operation ties established at the showcase are expected to create diverse tourism products for Việt Nam and other ASEAN member nations,” said Đinh Ngọc Đức, head of the administration’s tourism marketing department.

Việt Nam recognises ATF 2019 as a golden opportunity to promote local tourism and introduce special products including beach destinations, MICE (Meeting, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) and food tourism in Quảng Ninh Province as well as other localities.

This year’s forum will welcome about 2,000 delegates from regional travel agencies, the World Tourism Organisation, travel agencies, media and international organisations.

The ATF 2019 will close on Friday.

Việt Nam first hosted the ATF in 2009 with the theme ‘ASEAN Tourism – Striving for new heights’. At that time, despite the global economic crisis, the forum succeeded in attracting more than 2,000 delegates from all over the world, proposing solutions and passing important memorandums of understanding to help the region’s sector survive and strive in the downturn. — VNS