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The ASEAN Tourism Forum will be held at Suntec City Convention Centre
This will be the fifth time Singapore has played host to one of ASEAN’s biggest gathering, the ASEAN Tourism Forum, (ATF) first launched in Malaysia in 1981.
Next year’s theme, “ASEAN: Embracing Our Past & Together Shaping Our Future”, sets the stage for ASEAN to celebrate its achievements and for member countries to work together to create new opportunities for the future.
The ATF 2007 programme will encompass the meetings of ASEAN Tourism Ministers and industry associations, the ASEAN Tourism Conference, media briefings as well as TRAVEX, a travel trade show.
Welcoming delegates to Singapore, Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Mr S Iswaran said: “ASEAN has achieved strong tourism growth in the past few years through close regional collaboration.”
In 2005, tourist arrivals in ASEAN reached more than 44 million, an increase of 4.7 per cent compared to 2004. Intra-ASEAN travel alone accounted for over 23 million visitors (or 45% of total arrivals into ASEAN), a 3.3% increase over 2004.
“We can do even better,” said Minister Iswaran, urging ASEAN countries to continue joint marketing efforts.
“We must also continue to engage our dialogue partners, China, Japan and Korea, in tourism co-operation. I am pleased that the ASEAN Tourism Agreement will set out a framework for longer term joint co-operation between ASEAN and its partners,” he added.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) laid out the welcome mat for delegates at this year’s ATF in Davao, Philippines, when it hosted a “Uniquely Singapore” night featuring homegrown entertainers such as the Dim Sum Dollies and singer Wendi Koh.
ATF 2007 is jointly organized by the STB, the National Association of Travel Agents (NATAS) and the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA).
