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| ASEAN Tourism Forum 2007 Closing Ceremony |
The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2007 came to a successful close with a party at the St James Power Station. This year, more than 1,700 delegates including government officials, buyers, sellers and media personnel from over fifty countries participated in ATF 2007. To signify the handing over of ATF to Thailand, Mr Lim Neo Chian, Chairman of the Singapore Host Committee presented a handover gift - Framed Vanda Miss Joaquim Orchid, and the ATF Commemorative Trophy - to Dr Sasithara Pichaichannarong, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Thailand. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mr Lim said “ATF 2007 has been productive and fruitful. There was much enthusiasm and commitment from my ASEAN NTO colleagues and our dialogue partners, in pursuing concrete results and actions. Key outcome of the ASEAN tourism Ministers and NTO meetings include strengthening integration in the region, with focus on increasing connectivity and liberalising travel barriers to facilitate easy cross-border intra-ASEAN travel, as well as making it convenient for visitors to travel into and within ASEAN. As ATF 2007 comes to a close, I am pleased to hand over the hosting of ATF 2008 to Thailand.” Commenting on her experience at ATF 2007 and Thailand playing host to ATF2008, Dr Sasithara said, “Singapore has done a great job this year. We are grateful and appreciative of all the preparations that had gone into planning and organising the various meetings, events and TRAVEX. Thailand is proud and all set to host ATF 2008. We also look forward to signing the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for Tourism Professionals which would eventually facilitate movement of tourism professionals within the region and enhance the quality of tourism human resources at ATF 2008 in Thailand.” At the closing ceremony, guests were treated to performances by San Nikkis and St James Power Station’s in-house talents who entertained the crowd with renditions of Thai and English songs. St James Power Station epitomises Singapore’s efforts to rejuvenate itself as a destination. This location, once Singapore’s oldest power station, has been transformed into a popular entertainment complex that houses nine outlets spread over a sprawling 60,000 sq feet. About ASEAN TOURISM FORUMThe ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) is a cooperative regional effort to promote the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region as a single tourist destination. This annual event involves all the sectors in the tourism industry of the 10 member nations of ASEAN: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Each year, the hosting of ATF is rotated among the ASEAN member countries. Singapore is the host for ATF 2007. The annual forum comprises of the meetings of ASEAN Tourism Ministers and industry associations, TRAVEX, the ASEAN Tourism Conference and media briefings. City and regional tours are also offered to overseas participants. About ASEAN Tourism Forum 2007ASEAN Tourism Forum 2007 (ATF 2007) marks the 26th anniversary of this event since its inauguration in Malaysia in 1981. This is the fifth time Singapore is hosting the ATF. Previous staging of ATF in Singapore were in 1994 and 1999. The Singapore Host Committee which leads the various sub-committees for the organisation of ATF 2007, is headed by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), and consists of members from the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) and Singapore Hotel Association (SHA). For more information, please visit www.atf2007.travel. |
