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Langkawi To Host Asean Tourism Forum
Malaysia's resort island of Langkawi will host next year the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) from January 21 to 29 to project Asean as an attractive, multi-faceted single destination. The Asean Travel Exchange (TRAVEX), which will see some 400 buyers from around the world meeting and exploring business opportunities with over 400 sellers from the Asean countries, highlights it, said Abdul Rahman Hj Shaari, Director of Tourism Malaysia.
TRAVEX is expected to draw 150 international and local travel trade media, he said. ATF aims to create and increase awareness of Asean as a highly competitive regional tourist destination in the AsiaPacific area. It will also attract more tourists to individual Asean member countries or a combination of them, promote intra-Asean travel and strengthen cooperation among the various sectors of the Asean tourism industry, he said. A team led by the Deputy Director General of Tourism Malaysia and comprising of the presidents of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), Malaysia Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), Asean Tourism Association (ASEANTA), and also Malaysia Airlines, have began a series of road shows to Asean countries to promote ATF.
A panel of representative of the ATF organising committee met the press yesterday. They included Abdul Rahman Hj Shaari, Director of Tourism Malaysia; Agus Salim, President of ASEAN Tourism Association; Shahrudin Hj Itam, Deputy General Manager Langkawi Tourism Action Council; Araldas Arulanda, Vice President of Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA); and, Yuzer Yussof of Malaysia Airlines. Abdul Rahman Hj Shaari delivered a concise overview of the upcoming ATF 2005, and highlighted its theme, "Shifting Paradigm - Prospering the Region".
It was selected in view of the rapid change in international scene that coincides with the timeliness and appropriateness where modern borderless world presents opportunities and challenges to the Asean region, he said. For the regional tourism industry to capitalise on these opportunities and challenges, the mindset of the industry players must be attuned to the realities of globalisation. It is imperative to move on from current business paradigms and adopt cutting edge ideas and out-of-the-box thinking will benefit Asean tourism businesses and the people they serve along with the region's economic well-being as a whole. Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin.
Bandar Seri Begawan 25/08/2004
