5th ASEAN Tourism Investment Forum opens in Lombok

The 5th ASEAN Tourism Investment Forum (ATIF), attended by around 100 participants from the government and private sectors of ASEAN country members as well as China, Japan and Korea, kicked off at Santika Mataram Hotel in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), on Wednesday.

Senior officer at ASEAN secretariat infrastructure division, Eddy Krismeidi Soemawilaga, Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry’s Cultural and Tourism Development director-general, Firmansyah Rahim, the ministry’s inspector general I Gusti Putu Laksaguna and NTB Tourism Agency head Gita Aryadi were among state officials attending the opening ceremony of the two-day forum.

Unlike last year's forum, which only involved government officials, Eddy said that this year’s event also invited private sectors.

“There will be a business to business session this year so that every country can promote its tourism destinations as potential investments,” he said. Eddy added that such event was important to boost overall tourism in ASEAN countries.

According to Eddy, ASEAN countries have shown a remarkable growth in their tourism industries, with the number of international tourists reaching 81 million last year, a 10.14 percent increase from 73 million tourists in 2010.

“ATIF is an important event in boosting the tourism industries in ASEAN countries,” he said (Jakarta Post)