VIENTIANE, 24 January 2024 – Malaysia’s delegation to Southeast Asia’s largest tourism trade event of ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF2024) this year comes with a mission to promote sustainable development, increasing and stimulating ecotourism in the region, best practices for sustainability, preserving existing ecotourism and community involvement.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a cultural dance by Istana Budaya to officiate Malaysia’s booth is led by Dato’ Roslan Tan Sri Abdul Rahman, Secretary General of Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia, accompanied by Dato' Dr. Ammar Bin Abd. Ghapar, Director General of Tourism Malaysia; and H.E. Ambassador Edi Irwan bin Mahmud, Malaysian Ambassador to the Lao PDR.

Joining the Malaysian delegation are representatives from Perak Tourism, Melaka Tourism and Johor Tourism as well as local dignitaries, excellencies, media, and tourism industry players.

Malaysia will officially become the next host for the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2025, marking its return to hosting ATF since the last event in 2014 in Kuching, Sarawak.

Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia will attend the 27th ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting, and the 44th ASEAN Plus Three Tourism Meeting.

The official opening ceremony of ATF 2024 is set for 24th January 2024 by H.E. Prime Minister of Laos Sonexay Siphandone at the Don Chan Palace Hotel, Sisattanak District, Vientiane.

ATF 2024 will cover two concurrent events, namely the Ministerial and Bilateral meetings in Landmark Hotel, while the TRAVEX is in the Lao ITEC Exhibition Hall which serves as a platform for suppliers of

ASEAN tourism products and services as well as qualified buyers from around the world to meet through pre-scheduled appointments.

For TRAVEX, Malaysia will depict eco-tourism and sustainable attractions in tandem with the modern cities that Malaysian tourism has to offer including Malaysian traditional handicrafts by KARYANEKA at booth number A4 in Lao ITECC Exhibition Centre,

Vientiane.

“On this note, Malaysia congratulates Laos for successfully organising ATF2024. We hope that the meeting and travel fair will help in boosting the ASEAN tourism business and bilateral understanding at the highest level,” said Dato Sri Tiong King Sing.

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About Tourism Malaysia

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, also known as Tourism Malaysia, is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination. Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene.

The next Visit Malaysia Year, set to take place in 2026, will commemorate the sustainability of the nation's tourism industry, which is also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).

Furthermore, Tourism Malaysia actively endorses the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), working towards the realisation of the IMT-GT Visiting Year 2023-2025, with the shared aim of promoting the region as a unified tourism destination. For more information, visit Tourism Malaysia’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

For enquiries, please contact:

Muhammad Zaki Talib
Deputy Director
International Promotions Division (ASEAN)
zaki@tourism.gov.my
Tel: +603 8891 8263