ASEAN Tourism Cooperation Shows Progress At ATF 2018

PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA, 27 January 2018: Tourism Malaysia showed strong presence at the 37^th ASEAN Tourism Forum in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which was held from 22 to 26 January.

Led by the Minister of Tourism and Culture, YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, the Malaysian delegation comprised of 23 sellers from hotels and resorts, tour agencies and state tourism boards. The Malaysian delegation also included the Secretary General of Tourism and Culture, Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah, and Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Seri MIrza Mohamed Taiyab.

This year’s ATF was attended by 240 buyers and 233 exhibitors with 323 booths, representing companies and properties from 10 ASEAN countries, as well as 120 international media.

ASEAN TOURISM FORUM TRAVEL EXCHANGE (ATF TRAVEX)

One of the major programmes Malaysia participated in was the ATF TRAVEX, a key platform for networking with international trade buyers and business meetings which took place at the Chiang Mai International Convention Centre, from 24 to 26 January 2018. It served as a dedicated platform for travel and tourism suppliers in ASEAN to explore business opportunities with international buyers and vice versa.

Malaysia made more than 1,000 appointments with international buyers representing 51 countries. The platform was effective in raising awareness among international delegates and media on the many new and exciting tourism products, services and events in Malaysia.

Datuk Seri Mirza said buyers were interested in updates of new tourism products, services and events in Malaysia, to expand their tour packages of Malaysia. The international media also came to the Malaysia Pavilion to obtain information on new products and events in Malaysia to promote them in their home countries.

NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANISATION (NTO) MEDIA BRIEFING AND ASEAN GASTRONOMY TOURISM

Datuk Seri Mirza Mohammad Taiyab delivered a presentation to the media at the NTO Media Briefing on 25 January at the Meeting Room of the CMECC Convention Centre. The 45-minute briefing was attended by some 50 international media members.

He was also invited as a speaker to the ASEAN Gastronomy Conference that was held on the same day in Shangri-la Hotel Chiang Mai. The conference discussed the topic “The Future of FOOD: Turning ASEAN Tradition and Craftsmanship into Sustainable Gastronomic Tourism.” The conference set the stage for global speakers from the industry to share their best practices, for ASEAN gastronomy gurus to share their culinary expertise, and to explore the way forward to establish an ASEAN Gastronomy Federation and Network.

MALAYSIA NETWORKING LUNCHEON

YB Dato’ Seri Nazri also hosted a special luncheon for international tourism trade buyers and media on 26 January at the Chiang Mai International Convention Centre. He took the opportunity to launch the Visit Malaysia 2020 promotion campaign and unveil the official logo.

He urged for the support of all industry counterparts for the campaign’s success and said that Visit Malaysia 2020 would benefit all tourism stakeholders in the region through collaborative cross-selling and re-marketing of the region to tourists who visited Malaysia.

In addition, the Minister also presented awards to recognise the outstanding contribution and commitment of ten organisations in the promotion of Malaysia in Thailand. The organisations comprised seven travel agencies, a tourism association and two media houses.

ASEAN TOURISM AWARDS 2018

The ASEAN Tourism Awards is a recognition of ASEAN’s best sustainable rural or urban tourism products proposed and implemented by public and private stakeholders who have decided to join forces for the benefit of their destination.

On 26 January, 14 Malaysian organisations won in the following categories:

ASEAN Green Hotel Standard:

• The Andaman A Luxury Collection Resort, Langkawi, Kedah
• Nexus Resort & Spa Karambunai, Sabah
• Riverside Majestic Hotel, Sarawak
• The Palace Hotel Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
• Min House Camp, Kelantan

ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard

• Putrajaya Corporation (Putrajaya)
• City Council of Penang Island (George Town)
• Muar Municipal Council (Muar)

ASEAN MICE Venue Standard

• Nexus Resort & Spa Karambunai, Sabah
• Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang
• Pullman Kuching, Sarawak
• Sunway Putra Hotel, KL
• Bukit Gambang Resort City, Pahang

ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Standard

• Urban category: KL Forest Eco Park by KL Tower (Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve), KL
• Rural category: KOPEL Kinabatangan Wildlife Corridor Habitat Restoration Program, Sabah

OTHER EFFORTS TO PROMOTE MALAYSIA AT ATF 2018

During the ATF, the Minister attended various Bilateral Meetings of the ASEAN NTOs and Tourism Ministers such as the 21^st Meeting of the ASEAN Tourism Ministers, 17^th ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan & Republic of Korea) Tourism Ministers Meeting, 6^th Meeting of ASEAN–India Tourism Minister and the ASEAN Tourism Conference. The Minister also attended bilateral meetings with the Philippines, PATA, US-ASEAN Business Council and Vietnam.

In brief, Malaysia’s participation in the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2018 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, had been fruitful as it opened up various opportunities with international travel agents.

-Tourism Malaysia.