“The Department of Tourism is honored and proud of the Philippines’ hosting of ATF 2016. With the theme, ‘One Community for Sustainability’, the 35th edition of this forum will launch the new ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan 2016 – 2020, which will work towards not only the development and growth of the region’s tourism, but also in ensuring that this growth is grounded on responsible, sustainable, and inclusive tourism,” says Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr, Secretary of Tourism, Philippines, before ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 18 – 25 January 2016 in SMX Convention Center in Manila.
SMX Convention Center Manila is one of the flagships of the MICE industry in the Philippines. SMX can accommodate a convention of up to 18,000 delegates and an expo of 2,500 exhibit.
SMX is conveniently located beside the SM Mall of Asia, the World’s 4th largest shopping mall, prestigious hotels, and key public transportation systems.
The Fair in Manila consists of two parts: ATF TRAVEX and ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF).
ATF TRAVEX (Travel Exchange) is the longest-running annual ASEAN leisure travel trade event, showcasing the largest contingent of ASEAN sellers. A significant component of the ATF programme, ATF TRAVEX centers on a trade-only mart, designed to offer opportunities for ASEAN travel products suppliers to meet qualified buyers from around the world through scheduled appointments.
ATF TRAVEX welcomes some 1,600 delegates including ministerial officials, exhibitors, buyers, media and other travel industry professionals from some 50 countries, which includes more than 450 international buyers and 150 international media.
“We are very much interested in the Philippines, and are looking forward to meeting with suppliers and operators from 5-star hotels, resorts and DMCs,“ says Ben Gosman, Managing Director, Free Style Leisure / Free Style Incentives, Netherlands, one of the buyers.
ATF
ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) is a cooperative regional effort to promote the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region as one tourist destination. This annual event involves all the tourism industry sectors of the 10 member nations of ASEAN: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.
Each year, the hosting of ATF is rotated among the member countries. ATF 2016 marks the 35th anniversary of this event since it’s inauguration in Malaysia in 1981.
The ASEAN Ministers of Tourism are scheduled to hold formal meetings on 21 and 22 January 2016. The attendance of the ASEAN ministers, as well as their counterparts from China, Japan, Korea and India. is an affirmation of each country’s commitment to continued regional cooperation in the tourism sphere.
ATF aims to :
- Project ASEAN as an attractive, multi-faceted single destination.
- Create and increase awareness of ASEAN as a highly competitive regional tourist destination in the Asia Pacific.
- Attract more tourists to ASEAN member countries.
- Promote intra-ASEAN travel.
- Strengthen cooperation among the various sectors of the ASEAN tourism industry.
“To all the delegates, we welcome you to our home, the Philippines. We hope that, beyond the conference walls of ATF, you experience our country in different ways—from our diverse natural wonders to our rich cultural heritage and the warmth of the Filipino people. And while this forum will allow for the exchange of ideas for the progress of our economies, we also hope that these meetings will build stronger friendships,” says Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr.
