Tourists visit Hanoi - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) - The 2023 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), themed"ASEAN: A Journey to Wonderful Destinations," opened in Yogyakarta,Indonesia, on February 3 evening.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Indonesian Vice PresidentMa'ruf Amin expressed his hope that the forum would accelerate regional tourismrecovery and serve as a medium for discussion and formulation of policies andreal programmes on tourism development that will be more practical, direct, andorientated to the future.
He said that Indonesia is optimistic that the tourism sector would help todevelop ASEAN as a stable, peaceful, and dignified region that upholds humanityand supports global economic stability.
The Vice President called on ASEAN countries to develop sustainable and inclusivetourism with the involvement of micro and small enterprises, the women, and theyounger generation. Now is the time to improve the competitiveness of thetourism sector through innovation and creativity and transformation to thedigital sector to realise a productive tourism sector that could contribute tothe regional economy, he emphasised.
Taking place from February 2-5, ATF 2023 is the largest annual event heldalternately among the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN), creating a space for cooperation to promote this region as anattractive tourist destination worldwide.
Within the framework of the ATF 2023, a series of activities are held,including the 22nd ASEAN Plus Three Tourism Ministers Meeting ASEAN – IndiaTourism Ministers Meeting, the 2nd ASEAN – Russia Tourism Ministers Meeting,the 57th Meeting of ASEAN National Tourism Organisations, the 42nd Meeting ofASEAN 3 National Tourism Organisations, the 29th ASEAN - India National TourismOrganisations, the 13th ASEAN-Russia Federation Tourism Consultation Meeting,the ASEAN Tourism Awards Ceremony, and a press conference of ASEAN tourismministers and other activities./.
Vietnam will participate in ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2023 themed “ASEAN: A Journey to Wonderful Destinations”, and the Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) trade fair in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from February 2 – 5, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).
Vietnam lauded its bountiful tourism options at the Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) trade fair, part of the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2023 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from February 2-5.
After more than two years of hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all tourism activities in Vietnam have returned to normal and experienced a remarkable recovery since the country's full reopening on March 15 last year, Ha Van Sieu, deputy head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), said on February 3.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Tourists visit Hanoi - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
