Yogyakarta to host EATOF meet

YOGYAKARTA: Seven out of nine founding provinces of the East Asia Inter-Regional Forum (EATOF) have confirmed their attendance at the EATOF annual meeting to be held in Yogyakarta from Sept.9 to 12, 2001.

Ronny Sugiantoro, coordinator of the communication division of the meeting's organizing committee, told The Jakarta Post here on Wednesday that the two founding provinces of EATOF - Sarawak (Malaysia) and Primorsky (Russia) - had sent official letters to confirm the sending of their delegations.

"The provinces of Gangwon (Korea), Cebu (Philippines), Tuv (Mongolia), Chiang Mai (Thailand), Tottori (Japan) and Jillin (China) confirmed their attendance at the meeting. Each of the provinces has sent a list of their delegates," Ronny said.

The committee expects some 60 participants in the meeting.

"The participants will consist of government officials, representatives of tourism-related professions and academics. They will focus on the enhancement of cooperation among EATOF members and the promotion of EATOF member provinces as global tourist destinations," said Ronny.

Ronny also said that Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X was expected to open the meeting, while State Minister of Culture and Tourism I Gde Ardhika was scheduled to close it.

EATOF was established in a meeting hosted by Gangwon Province (Korea) in September 2000. The nine participating provinces were recognized as EATOF initiators.

The province of Cebu, in the Philippines will host the EATOF 2002 meeting," he said. (23)