Held in Hanoi from January 5-12, 2009, the event is a chance for Vietnam to advertize its country, people, culture and history to international friends and investors. The opening ceremony will take place at the National Convention Centre in Hanoi.

Besides the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2009, Vietnam will host an international travel fair named Travex from January 5-12, 2009.

Under the guidance of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) will focus all of its human resources and efforts to successfully organize this event.

At this moment, the VNAT has set up eight sub-committees to serve ATF. Documents introducing ATF and documents advertising Vietnamese tourism will be delivered at meetings, hotels and flights of Vietnam Airlines as well as on newspapers and television. A website on ATF 2009 will be launched soon.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has also established a Steering Board led by Minister Hoang Tuan Anh and the Organizing Board for ATF 2009 headed by Deputy Minister Tran Chien Thang.

Major activities during ATF 2009 will include: tourism working groups’ meeting with the participation of tourism experts and department-level delegates; ASEAN national tourism agencies’ meeting; ASEAN Tourism Ministerial Meeting and partners; and a press conference with ASEAN Tourism Ministers.

The Travex Fair will be organized at Hanoi’s Giang Vo Exhibition Centre with around 450 stalls displaying and introducing tourism products.

More than 1,500 delegates who are ministers and leaders of national tourism agencies, travel companies, and the medial. Through meetings, members will review the implementation of the ASEAN Tourism Agreement and work out cooperation orientations and an integration itinerary in ASEAN aiming to building an ASEAN tourism community by 2019.

Around 100 volunteers will serve delegations and activities at ATF 2009.

(Source: VOV, TN)