Surabaya ready to host ASEAN tourism forum<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): At least 1,650 participants from the Association
\nof Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will attend the ASEAN Tourism
\nForum (ATF) in Surabaya, East Java, from Jan. 6 to Jan. 12.<\/p>\n
Managing director of the Indonesian Tourism Promotion Board,
\nWuryastuti Sunario, said here yesterday that the number would
\ninclude tourism officials, executives of private firms, tourism
\norganizations and associations as well as the press.<\/p>\n
\"ATF 1995, held in Bangkok, Thailand, was attended by 1,200
\nparticipants. But the number of participants at ATF 1996 in
\nSurabaya is likely to be larger than 1,650, the total number
\nregistered as of Dec. 28,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She said that the annual event is a forum to discuss
\ncooperation in tourism promotion and marketing among the ASEAN
\nmembers. The association groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
\nPhilippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
\"Actually the cooperation began with the concept of 'Visit
\nASEAN Year 1992' which promoted ASEAN tourism as a single
\ndestination. The campaign was known as 'Six in one destination'
\n(without Vietnam, which joined ASEAN last year),\" she said.<\/p>\n
ATF is an annual event held since 1981 by the host government
\nand its tourist industry. ATF usually includes meetings of
\ngovernment tourism officials.<\/p>\n
In addition to the main conference and meetings, ATF
\nwill include a tourism mart called Travex (travel exchange) and
\nother meetings of the private organizations which make up the
\nASEAN Hotel and Restaurant Association, Federation of ASEAN
\nTravel Agencies and the scheduled airlines in the region.<\/p>\n
Travex 1996 in Surabaya will feature 476 booths for more than
\n950 seller delegates from the seven ASEAN members and more than
\n370 buyers from 46 countries.<\/p>\n
Tuti said that four tourism ministers from Maldives, Cambodia,
\nMyanmar and Laos would attend this year's ATF, which will be
\ncovered by more than 100 reporters from more than 20 countries.<\/p>\n
The event, organized by PT Setia Mice in cooperation with the
\nIndonesian Tourism Promotion Board, will be 66 percent financed
\nby private firms and 34 percent by government funds.<\/p>\n
\"Of the total cost of Rp 4.8 billion (approximately US$2
\nmillion), private companies and organizations contributed Rp 3.2
\nbillion,\" Tuti said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the province of East Java has prepared some
\nperformances for this year's ATF, including a flower parade,
\nkarapan sapi (a kind of bull race from the island of Madura) and
\nAdu Doro (a pigeon flying competition).<\/p>\n
Governor of East Java Basofi Sudirman will welcome the ATF
\ndelegates at Grahadi, the governor's mansion, on Saturday.<\/p>\n
President of ASEANTA, Sri Mulyono Herlambang, who is also
\nchairman of the Association of Indonesian Travel Agencies
\n(Asita), will officially open the event on Sunday. (icn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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