Sarawak will host next year’s ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in
Kuching, capital of the eastern Malaysian state, from January 16-23.
The ASEAN Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) will be held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.
Malaysia’s minister of tourism, Ng Yen Yen, said: "Hosting ATF 2014 is timely, as it will be the first international tourism event of the year in Malaysia, and will help usher in Visit Malaysia Year."
The minister added: "We chose to host ATF in Sarawak as we would like to give the destination greater exposure. It has great ecotourism products and good infrastructure for MICE."
At ATF 2013 in Vientiane this week, prime minister of Laos, Thongsing Thammavong, said the event is of historic significance for both Asean and Laos in preparation for the Asean Economic Community in 2015.
He said the increasing number of visitors to Asean countries "has made an enormous contribution to the socio-economic development of member countries, creating jobs, alleviating poverty and helping to close the gap in economic development between the newer and longstanding Asean member countries".
