When the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) rolls into town next month, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will use this event to showcase the strengths of the Lion City as a tourist destination and travel hub in South-east Asia.
In an email interview with TTG Asia, John Conceicao, executive director, international relations & market planning and Oceania with STB, described 2017 as a “milestone year for ASEAN”, and that the NTO is “honoured to be the host country of the 36th ATF in the 50thyear of ASEAN’s founding”.
The spotlight will naturally also be on Singapore as the host destination, with STB partnering local industry stakeholders for media fam trips to showcase the city-state’s latest leisure, dining and lifestyle offerings.
Conceicao said: “We are working closely with regional and international industry partners – from airlines and ground transport companies to hotels and travel agents – to market and publicise ASEAN as a destination.
“As Singapore is one of Asia’s main air hubs, with flights to around 300 cities worldwide, we are taking this opportunity to promote ASEAN and drive traffic from mid- to longhaul markets to the region through Changi Airport,” he added.
Furthermore, as ASEAN’s lead coordinator for cruise development, Singapore will also work closely with its regional counterparts to promote the Cruise South-east Asia brand, said Conceicao.
ATF 2017 will be held from January 16 to 20, 2017 at Marina Bay Sands. STB is the lead coordinator of meetings between ASEAN tourism leaders and industry stakeholders, while the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) and National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) will jointly organise the TRAVEX tradeshow.
Singapore last hosted ATF a decade ago, an event that was attended by more than 1,600 delegates.
