Deputy Minister Dang Thi Bich Lien, Deputy Director General Ha Van Sieu and delegates in the opening ceremony of ATF 2016

Vietnamese delegation attending the ATF 2016 included Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST), Ms. Dang Thi Bich Lien; Deputy Director General of Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), Mr. Ha Van Sieu; and representatives of departments of MoCST and VNAT.

ATF 2016 attracted the participation of around 2,620 delegates including tourism ministers, tourism officials of delegations taking part in the ASEAN tourism trade event of TRAVEX (Travel Exchange); visitors and international media agencies.

With the theme ‘‘One Community for Sustainability’’, ATF 2016 marks the 35th anniversary of ASEAN Tourism Forum (1981.-2016) and sets to launch the ASEAN Tourism Strategy Plan 2016-2025 aiming to promote responsible tourism, towards sustainable and conclusive development.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III affirmed the vast tourism potential in ASEAN. In 2014, the number of tourists in ASEAN reached 105.1 million arrivals (representing a 42.4 percent increase compared with 73.8 million tourist arrivals in 2010), of which, 49.22 million arrivals came from within ASEAN. The figure highlights a great potential for the growth of intra-ASEAN tourism, which would contribute to bringing benefits, not only for respective growth but also for mutual understanding and strengthening the ties among nations.

He supposed that ASEAN integration had made all countries as more attractive destinations for visitors from all over the world and the entire region should capitalize on this.

In addition, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation in order to maintain balance between tourism growth and natural resources protection, ensuring sustainability for the next generations.

Thanh Tam