The 49th meeting of the ASEAN National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) opened in the northern province of Quang Ninh on January 14, starting a series of activities within the framework of the 2019 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF). 

Nearly 200 delegates and leaders of NTOs of ASEAN and partner countries will discuss measures to promote sustainable tourism development in the region and specify the tourism sector’s contributions to gross domestic product and international tourist arrivals. 

Speaking at the event, General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh said tourism is an inevitable driving force of not only ASEAN member states, but also the world. Khanh added that the sector contributes to raising political and cultural understanding as well as promoting bilateral and multilateral cooperation among regional countries in particular. 

The ATF 2019 took on the theme “ASEAN: The Power of One”, towards the goal of an ASEAN with “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”. 

The five-day forum also affords Vietnam a chance to popularise the image of Vietnam’s tourism in the region and the world, introducing the outstanding tourist products of Vietnam and Quang Ninh in particular, especially in the realms of beach leisure, MICE and cuisine tourism. 

Bilateral meetings of ASEAN NTOs were also held as part of the event. 

On the sidelines of major events, the organising board arranged tours of Ha Long Bay and Yen Tu relic site for the delegates.–VNA