Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh province, in Vietnam (Courtesy of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism)

Vietnam, the rising star in Southeast Asian tourism, is hosting the 38th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) from Jan. 14 to 18 in the beautiful city of Ha Long in Quang Ninh province where it is expected to showcase its impressive achievements in the industry.

With the themes ASEAN — The Power of Unity and ASEAN — The Power of One, the five-day event is expected to attract more than 2,000 participants, including tourism ministers from ASEAN and East Asia, top leaders of national tourism agencies, international tourism organizations, high-end hotels and resorts, airlines and about 150 journalists and travel writers from Southeast Asia and outside the region.

“The event affords Vietnam a chance to improve its role and stature in regional tourism cooperation and introduce the country’s natural beauty and people to international friends,” the ATF organizing committee said in a statement.

Vietnam, which received a record 15.6 million international tourists and earned US$26.55 billion from tourism in 2018, said it was proud to host the 2019 ATF.

“We are honored to host the ATF and look forward to inviting all visitors to experience the natural beauty and warmth of our people,” Vietnam’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien told journalists
recently.

Indonesia, one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the world, is to feature prominently at the 2019 ATF. As a new powerhouse, Indonesia’s dynamic Tourism Minister Arief Haya will lead a strong Indonesian delegation during the forum. Indonesia received 14.59 million foreign tourists in the first 11 months of 2018.

There is to be a series of events, including several side events, as part of the ATF this year.

The first and main event is to be the ASEAN Tourism Ministerial Meeting held from Jan. 17 to 18. There is also to be an ASEAN Tourism Ministerial Meeting with China, Japan, South Korea and India.

The second main event is to be a meeting of the leaders of the ASEAN national tourism organizations from Jan. 14 to 16. There are also to be meetings between ASEAN tourism stakeholders and their counterparts from India and Russia.

Another important event is to be the ASEAN Tourism Forum on Travel Exchange (Travex), held from Jan. 16 to 18. The three-day Travex, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), is to have about 450 booths and is expected to attract 1,500 people, including buyers, sellers and journalists from ASEAN and other regions.

In cooperation with the ASEAN Secretariat, Vietnam is to organize the ASEAN Tourism Awards presentation ceremony during the ATF. There are to be four categories, including the third ASEAN homestay awards, the first ASEAN toilet awards, the first spa services awards and the second community-based tourism awards. 

Participating countries are to hold banquets to introduce their top tourism products. Brunei Darussalam and the Philippines are to organize special nights, namely Brunei Night and the Philippines Night. 

There are also to be an ASEAN Tourism Research Association Conference and the launch of a book on tourism stories in Vietnam as side events.

With its growing economic might, including an impressive economic boom in the tourism sector, Vietnam is in the right position to host the prestigious regional travel forum at the right time, although the ATF venues are rotated among ASEAN countries annually. The first ATF was held in Malaysia in 1981 and Vietnam last hosted the event in 2009.

The delegates at the ATF can themselves see the tectonic change in Vietnam, especially in the tourism industry, during the last 10 years.

Vietnam is a stable and peaceful country, which has been experiencing high economic growth during the last 10 years. In 2018, the Vietnamese economy was expected to grow by 7.08 percent in spite of global financial turmoil.

In tourism also, Vietnam has achieved many milestones during the last few years. With its pristine beaches, natural sites and stunning landscapes, Vietnam’s tourism has been growing more than 25 percent annually during the last three years, thanks to improved infrastructure, visa liberalization, more direct flights to many foreign cities and major reforms.

In 2017, Vietnam was historically ranked sixth by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in terms of global tourism growth. Indonesia was ranked eighth on the same list.

The ATF venue is very close to the world famous Ha Long Bay UNESCO World Heritage site. Recently, Vietnam built a new international airport in Van Don, just 50 kilometers from Ha Long Bay, which would provide easy access to the postcard perfect karsty islands in Halong Bay. The airport was opened on Dec. 30, 2018.

With a cost of $572 million, Vietnam also built a national highway connecting Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, which cut the journey time in half. It also built an international cruise port in Ha Long Bay.

Like Vietnam, the tourism industry in ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, has been growing by leaps and bounds during the last 10 years. In 2017, according to UNWTO, ASEAN countries received 124.86 million foreign tourists and earned $134.66 billion.

In an effort to increase cooperation, improve sustainable and inclusive tourism development and enhance the quality of human resources, ASEAN tourism stakeholders are to discuss the entire gamut of the tourist industry during the ATF meetings in Vietnam.

Indonesia, which has enormous potential in the tourism sector, can closely work together with fellow ASEAN countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore to promote ASEAN as one destination and develop its tourism.

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