ATF catches the early birds

Registration for buyers, sellers as well as hosted media for the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2013 is available on line until 30 June.

Vientiane, Laos will host the week-long event, 17 to 24 January, 2013. The event should attract over 1,000 travel related executives and government officials.

Lao PDR confirmed the theme “ASEAN: Hand In Hand, Conquering Our Future” during 17 to 24 January 2013 at Lao International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre.

During 17 to 21 January, official meetings are scheduled such as the ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ meeting; ASEAN National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) meetings and ASEAN travel trade association meetings.

ASEAN Tourism Conference (ATC) kicks off the commercial part of the event, 22 January, followed by the trade show, ATF TRAVEX (Travel Exchange) 22 to 24 January .

Travex should welcome 800 ASEAN exhibitors, 400 international buyers, 150 international and local media as well as 100 tourism trade visitors.

A booth 3×3 sqm costs US$2,370 while a seller pays US$540 and a co-delegate, US$390.

As for buyers and media, they can apply for a hosting programme online that covers hotel and airfares and offers free pre and post tours of the destination.

Media have to promise to write a minimum number of positive stories to gain hosting privileges. Buyers must commit to attending all appointments scheduled with sellers. A negative report card usually prompts the hosts to hand over a bill for the accommodation and air fares or bans the buyer or media representative from future events.

Details of the ASEAN Tourism Conference has yet announced as well as the post tours.

Delegates should book hotels early due to the shortage of rooms in the Lao capital. The city’s top hotel, Lao Plaza, is already heavily booked in January, a peak travel period for Laos.

There are no nonstop flights to Laos from North America Europe and most destinations in the Asia Pacific.

The most convenient way is to travel via other Asian destinations such as Bangkok (Thai Airways International), Kuala Lumpur (AirAsia), Singapore (Lao Airlines), Hanoi (Vietnam Airlines, Lao Airlines), Ho Chi Minh City(Vietnam Airlines, Lao Airlines), Phnom Penh (Vietnam Airlines), Siem Reap (Laos Airlines), Kunming (Lao Airlines, China Eastern Airlines) and Nanning (China Eastern Airlines).

Source - ttrweekly