Tourism Indochina: ASEAN Tourism Forum 2011 Hailed as Resounding Success

Tourism Indochina: ASEAN Tourism Forum 2011 Hailed as Resounding Success

PHNOM PENH, 21 January 2011—The immensely successful 2011 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), hosted by Cambodia, officially came to an end on Friday, January 21st, after 8 full days of business networking and cultural exchanges amongst tourism ministers, leaders of national tourism offices, travel agents, and tour operators from all ten ASEAN nations. Over 3,000 delegates from all corners of the world attended the forum this year, and Cambodia offered an exciting range of cultural and entertainment options that made ATF 2011 unforgettable.

The ASEAN Tourism Forum is a cooperative regional effort to promote the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region as one tourist destination and the most important activity of the ASEAN tourism cooperation framework. The annual event—held this year from January 15-21, 2011—involves all the tourism industry sectors of the 10 member nations of ASEAN: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The closing ceremony of ATF 2011, which took place on Friday, was held in Phnom Penh’s Naga Hotel Ballroom. All the delegates, decked in sharp formal attire, gathered to toast to the accomplishments of the forum and to celebrate the collective initiative to turn ASEAN into one united tourist destination fueled by sustainable tourism development.

Delegates were treated to singing and dance performances by Cambodia’s most revered celebrities and artists. The evening’s proceedings also included a striking fashion show showcasing a cutting-edge modern take on traditional apsara dresses and headwear. Hundreds of cameras flashed as the models strutted down the stage with brightly colored gowns adorned with wings, small straw cages, and sequined accessories. The night wrapped up with the government of Cambodia thanking all the delegates and presenting awards and certificates to individuals who helped organize ATF 2011.

ATF 2011 was a wonderful success, and delegates were already looking forward to the next year. The 2012 ATF will take place in Manado, Indonesia. The theme of ATF 2012 will be “ASEAN Tourism for a Global Community of Nations.” Source: MoT

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Tourism Indochina: ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting

Tourism Indochina: ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting

(Tourism Indochina: Date : 2012-01-26): The Cambodia Minister of Tourism attended the 15th ASEAN Ministers Meeting under the theme of “Tourism For A Global Community of Nations”. In the Meeting, the ASEAN Tourism Ministers express a high appreciation to the continued progress in implementing the Tourism Strategic Plan 2011 -2015 and also the commitment to foster the implementation the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan so as to hit the defined target and strengthening of the tourism product quality via standardizing and human resources capacity building.

Throughout the meeting agenda of ASEAN Tourism Forum, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have endorsed ASEAN Green Hotel Standard, Home Stay and Spa and rewarded 10 ASEAN Green Hotels Standard in the Kingdom of Cambodia including 7 in Siem Riep, one in Phnom Penh, one in Battambang and another one in Preah Sihanouk province. In addition, with the same shared goal, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have supported ASEAN Tourism Marketing Strategy 2012-2015, aiming to promote and develop ASEAN to be a competitive destination.

The Marketing Strategy mainly focuses on Indian and Chinese and Intra- ASEAN Travelers and remarkably ASEAN inbound tourist is approximately 79 million with an increase of 7.4 %. Tourists from Korean, Japan and china are about 12 million, 2.4 million from India, and 34 million from Intra- ASEAN travelers. ASEAN expect to register approximately 107 million in 2015.

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Tourism Indochina: Minister of Tourism attended the ASEAN Ministers Meeting in ASEAN Tourism Forum

Tourism Indochina: Minister of Tourism attended the ASEAN Ministers Meeting in ASEAN Tourism Forum

Indonesia- On January 10-15, 2012, Cambodian delegations, led by H.E Dr. THONG Khon, Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom, attended the 15th ASEAN Ministers Meeting, the 13th ASEAN Ministers Meeting plus China, Japan and Korea, and the 3rd ASEAN-India Meeting in ASEAN Tourism Forum under the theme of “Tourism For A Global Community of Nations”, held in Manado, Indonesia.

In the 15th ASEAN Ministers Meeting, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have highly appreciated the continued progress in implementing the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan 2011-2015 which was endorsed during the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2011 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Moreover, the ASEAN Tourism Ministers have jointly committed to further foster implementation of the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan in order to accomplish the defined targets, namely strengthening of tourism product quality through standardizing the quality of various tourism products; endeavors in human resource capacity building in tourism sector via the stringent implementation of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) and last but not least, the joint promotion of ASEAN tourist destination.

In keeping with this spirit, the ASEAN Tourism Ministers have endorsed the ASEAN Green Hotel Standard, ASEAN Home Stay Standard, and ASEAN Spar Standard, and at the meantime, approved and supported the initiatives of Cambodia in preparing the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard based on the Cambodian Clean Tourist City Standard. during the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2012, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have conferred upon the Green Hotel Reward to the 10 Hotels in Cambodia, in which seven hotels located in Siem Reap province, one hotel in Phnom Penh, one in Preah Sihanouk province, and another one in Battambang province in addition to the existing 20 ASEAN Green Hotels in the country.

Concurrently, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have endorsed the ASEAN Tourism Marketing Strategy 2012-2015, aiming at developing ASEAN to be the competitive tourist destination, mainly targeting the Chinese and Indian source markets as well as the Intra-ASEAN Travelers (ASEAN for ASEAN).

It is remarkable to note that in 2011, ASEAN registered international tourists of approximately 79 million with an increase of 7.4% (in which tourists from China, Japan, Korea recorded 12 million, 2.4 million from India, and 34 million of Intra-ASEAN Travelers, and ASEAN will receive approximately 107 million in 2015.

Furthermore, the 11th ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting plus China, Japan and Korea have conducted in accordance with the agendas of cooperation of ASEAN+3 (China, Japan, Korea). The meeting has shared opinions and best practices and highly appreciates the strong tourism cooperation in the framework of ASEAN+3, thereby requesting to further encourage youth travelers, joint-promotion of ASEAN+3, connectivity of ASEAN+3, healthy and security cooperation by preparing the Memorandum of Cooperation-MOC on ASEAN Plus Three (ATP) Tourism Cooperation which is agreed to be signed in 2012 as well as further intensify the implementation of ASEAN Plus Three Work Plan 2007-2017. the ASEAN Tourism Ministers have highly appreciated the ASEAN-Japan Center and ASEAN-Korea Center for best endeavors in technically supporting ASEAN tourism development, and strongly welcome remarks by H.E Taleb Rifai, the Secretary General of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) showcasing the progressive development of cooperation between ASEAN and UNWTO.

In particular, the 3rd ASEAN Ministers Meeting + India has mutually recognized the importance of tourism development between ASEAN and India, and agreed to sign the Memorandum of Understanding ASEAN-India on Tourism Cooperation. Whereby, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have welcomed the establishment of ASEAN Promotion Chapter Mombai and ASEAN-India Car Rally 2012.

Overall, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have supported and committed to urge up ASEAN connectivity by further encourage visa exemption between ASEAN member states and welcome the implementation of Common Visa (by introducing the formation of Minus X as experienced in ACMECS framework, Single Visa between Cambodia and Thailand), as well as further strengthen close cooperation in ASEAN Transportation service, particularly air connectivity by mean of the Full Liberation of Passenger Air Services by 2015. It is remarkable to note that the Opening of ASEAN Tourism Forum 2012 was highly presided over by H.E Boediono, the Vice-President of Indonesia with honorary participation of H.E Taleb Rifai, the Secretary General of UNWTO and Tourism Ministers of ASEAN, China, Japan, Korea and India.

The next ASEAN Tourism Forum 2013 will be hosted in Vientiane, Laos from 18-21 January 2013. Source: MOT

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Tourism Indochina: Mekong tourism officials outline future orientation

Tourism Indochina: Mekong tourism officials outline future orientation

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2009-01-13:)

The 2 nd meeting of Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) tourism ministers on Jan. 9 passed a joint declaration concerning recent progress in cooperation between the region’s tourism authorities and orientation for future development.

The GMS tourism ministers’ meeting took place within the framework of the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) currently taking place in Hanoi.

GMS consists of Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

The joint declaration said that GMS’s tourism sector is continuing to grow and is standing firm against the fallout from the global financial crisis. Meanwhile, a new website for tourism promotion activities is to be launched soon, which will also act as a forum to effectively implement the Mekong tourism promotion strategy, which was adopted in 2005.

The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) has successfully organised three recent seminars aimed at accelerating the implementation of preferential projects under the tourism development plan, and preparing in-depth proposals to present at the upcoming conference of development partners later this year.

GMS tourism ministers praised the MTCO Executive Director’s efforts to speed up the programme regarding tourism development and marketing and improve coordination in the implementation of the tourism strategy.

The ministers also made a special note of the assistance received from the French government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in enhancing the MTCO’s financial and technical capacities, and spoke highly of Thailand’s initiative in launching the Mekong Tourism Year 2009-2010.

Regarding their orientation for the future, the six GMS countries’ tourism ministers affirmed that they would make full use of the sub-region’s infrastructure and improve and expand their coordination to promote the development of sustainable tourism in a socially responsible manner. The six nations vowed to continue to pool their resources in order to establish GMS as a common destination in the context of the global economic recession.

The six ministers requested that the Tourism Working Group and MTCO exploit all available resources and hoped that the upcoming conference of development partners later this year would be successful in expanding their mutually-beneficial partnership.

MGS expects to welcome 53 million foreign visitors by 2015, generating new jobs for more than 4.2 million workers


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Vietnam Tourism Remains Strong through Economic Crisis

There has been plenty of tourism news coming out of Vietnam recently, ranging from forum announcements to arrival figures, discounts and promotions to a new visa waiver, fuel surcharge cuts and a focus on Japanese arrivals.



ASEAN Tourism Forum



The 2009 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), considered the most important event in the ASEAN tourism co-operation framework, will be held in Ha Noi from January 5 to 12.

Around 1,500 delegates from around the world will participate in the eight-day forum, themed "Towards New Heights".



Ancient Hoi An Receives 450,000 Tourists



The ancient city of Hoi An received approximately 450,000 tourists, including 320,000 foreigners in 2008.

To attract tourists during the Christmas and New Year season, the Hoi An Culture, Sport and Tourism Centre is holding a number of traditional art performances, a street festival, an ethnic cultural fair and meetings with foreigners.

Visitors can enjoy a street festival on New Year’s Eve and a cultural fair showcasing each ethnic group.



Tour Operators Slash Prices as Economic Crisis Decreases Demand



Many Vietnamese tour companies are attempting to offset the damage of the global economic crisis by offering enticing discounts and other promotions.

Cholontourist Company said it has reduced the prices of some tours by US$50-60 and is considering further reducing profit margins in order to keep regular customers.

Vietnamese tour operators said the number of groups booking their services has dropped from an average of 25 a month to two or three.

Although December-February is usually the peak tourist season for the Asia-Pacific region, the outlook thus far is not looking good.

While Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific have been offering low-cost domestic fares in recent months, international tickets to Vietnam remain high.



Vietnam Waives Visas for Russians Tourists Next Month



Russian visitors with valid passports will no longer require visas to come to Vietnam as of January 1, 2009, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.

Vietnam will be the third Southeast Asian country after Thailand and Laos to waive visas for Russian citizens visiting for tourism purposes.

For a visa waiver for stays of 15 days or less, Russian visitors must have a valid passport and a return or onward ticket.



Cathay Pacific Airways Cuts Fuel Surcharges for Long-Haul Services



Cathay Pacific Airways will significantly cut passenger fuel surcharges from US$25.1 to $13.8 for short-haul flights and from $106.7 to $64 for long-haul services in Northeast and Southeast Asia including those in Vietnam.



Viet Nam Remains Popular with Japanese tourists



Vietnam will be listed among the key destinations in Japan’s tourism promotion programme in the near future, according to the Japanese Association of Travel Agents.

Despite being in the throes of the global economic downturn, 400,000 Japanese have visited Vietnam YTD.

Vietnam Airlines said that the co-operation of Japanese travel agents and official agencies to hold cultural and tourism events will prove vital in attracting Japanese tourists to Vietnam.

Vietnam Airlines operates six direct flights from Ha Noi and HCM City to Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka.

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Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/

Read more...

Vietnam Tourism Remains Strong through Economic Crisis

There has been plenty of tourism news coming out of Vietnam recently, ranging from forum announcements to arrival figures, discounts and promotions to a new visa waiver, fuel surcharge cuts and a focus on Japanese arrivals.



ASEAN Tourism Forum



The 2009 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), considered the most important event in the ASEAN tourism co-operation framework, will be held in Ha Noi from January 5 to 12.

Around 1,500 delegates from around the world will participate in the eight-day forum, themed "Towards New Heights".



Ancient Hoi An Receives 450,000 Tourists



The ancient city of Hoi An received approximately 450,000 tourists, including 320,000 foreigners in 2008.

To attract tourists during the Christmas and New Year season, the Hoi An Culture, Sport and Tourism Centre is holding a number of traditional art performances, a street festival, an ethnic cultural fair and meetings with foreigners.

Visitors can enjoy a street festival on New Year’s Eve and a cultural fair showcasing each ethnic group.



Tour Operators Slash Prices as Economic Crisis Decreases Demand



Many Vietnamese tour companies are attempting to offset the damage of the global economic crisis by offering enticing discounts and other promotions.

Cholontourist Company said it has reduced the prices of some tours by US$50-60 and is considering further reducing profit margins in order to keep regular customers.

Vietnamese tour operators said the number of groups booking their services has dropped from an average of 25 a month to two or three.

Although December-February is usually the peak tourist season for the Asia-Pacific region, the outlook thus far is not looking good.

While Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific have been offering low-cost domestic fares in recent months, international tickets to Vietnam remain high.



Vietnam Waives Visas for Russians Tourists Next Month



Russian visitors with valid passports will no longer require visas to come to Vietnam as of January 1, 2009, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.

Vietnam will be the third Southeast Asian country after Thailand and Laos to waive visas for Russian citizens visiting for tourism purposes.

For a visa waiver for stays of 15 days or less, Russian visitors must have a valid passport and a return or onward ticket.



Cathay Pacific Airways Cuts Fuel Surcharges for Long-Haul Services



Cathay Pacific Airways will significantly cut passenger fuel surcharges from US$25.1 to $13.8 for short-haul flights and from $106.7 to $64 for long-haul services in Northeast and Southeast Asia including those in Vietnam.



Viet Nam Remains Popular with Japanese tourists



Vietnam will be listed among the key destinations in Japan’s tourism promotion programme in the near future, according to the Japanese Association of Travel Agents.

Despite being in the throes of the global economic downturn, 400,000 Japanese have visited Vietnam YTD.

Vietnam Airlines said that the co-operation of Japanese travel agents and official agencies to hold cultural and tourism events will prove vital in attracting Japanese tourists to Vietnam.

Vietnam Airlines operates six direct flights from Ha Noi and HCM City to Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka.

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Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/

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