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Asean Tourism Forum To Attract Japan, China And Korea

A key tourism meet, the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF), is scheduled to be held in the Malaysian island paradise of Langkawi in January in which Brunei is to attend. Key tourism ministers from Japan, China and South Korea, which are currently major tourism producing countries, will also hold talks with Asean officials. With the theme of 'Shifting Paradigm Prospering the Region', the next ATF will focus at how to promote inter-ASEAN tourism in the rapidly changing world.

This is a result of the heavy toll that the tourism industry suffered from last year's outbreak of SARS. The ATF has long been regarded as an avenue for tourism industry professionals to promote the ASEAN region as a premier tourist destination. The ten countries are expected to dispatch top tourism officials and representatives to showcase and highlight the region while, at the same time, begin a series of government and travel trade association meetings.

The organisers for next year's conference, to be held in Langkawi, Malaysia from January 21 to 29, also disclosed that the schedule includes meeting with Ministers in charge of tourism from Japan, China and South Korea to explore cooperative measures to increase the level of tourism further. This year's theme, 'Shifting Paradigm - Prospering the Region' is to address the challenges and opportunities that exist in the region and for the tourism industry to adopt cutting edge, ideas and out-of-box-thinking that will help the region's tourism industry.

Bandar Seri Begawan 25/08/2004