Asean tourism chiefs to meet in Manila

The tourism ministers of the 10 member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are meeting in Manila at the staging of the 35th Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) this month to map out an integrated tourism development plan and policy framework for the entire region.

The ministers, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT), will also meet with the officers of the national tourism organizations (NTOs) of the Asean-member countries during the ATF 2016.

Comprising the NTOs are industry players and regulators of the various tourism sectors of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The daily meetings will be held at the Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza from Jan. 18 to 22 as DOT marketing arm Tourism Promotions Board rolls out the ATF exhibits at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, for the entire duration of the eight-day international event, or up to Jan. 25.

DOT Undersecretary and ATF 2016 Philippine Host Committee Chair Benito C. Bengzon Jr. said the ATF exhibits featuring the best of Asean would give thousands of visitors from all over the world a memorable viewing experience.

Among the visitors will be hundreds of foreign buyers and members of the international media.

“The overriding objective is to come up with a single tourism policy infrastructure, legal framework or strategic platform for all of Asean,” Bengzon said.

“The objective is to make Asean tourism contribute to the overall regional economic integration agenda that is envisioned to address the human requirements of Southeast Asia’s 622 million people,” he added.