Viet Nam will host a regional tourism senior official meeting next July and the ASEAN Tourist Forum (ATF) in 2009, said a Viet Nam tourism official at the ATF 2007, which is being held in Singapore.

The Vietnamese delegation, headed by Vice Director of the National Tourism Administration Hoang Tuan Anh, provided participants with information on Viet Nam's tourist policy as well as its tourism development achievements.
The delegation also held bilateral talks with member countries to increase cooperation ties.
The conference, which included the 10th ASEAN Tourism Minister Meeting and the 6th ASEAN Tourism Minister Meeting with China, the Republic of Korea and Japan, agreed on issues relating to promoting tourism, especially sea tourism, in the region, dealing with any potential problems and attracting investment.
The conference also highlighted the benefits tourism contributes to each member country's economy as well as to the region.
ASEAN tourism fair, TRAVEX, attracting more than 1,200 participants, was also held during the ATF.
ASEAN countries welcomed more than 56.4 million of foreign visitors in 2006, a year-on-year increase of 8.18 percent.

(Source: VNA)