Cambodia to Host Next ASEAN Tourism Investment Forum

Cambodia will host the 6th ASEAN Tourism Investment Forum (ATIF) in 2014. This year the 5th ATIF took place November 7-8 in Lombok Indonesia. The forum attracted over 100 private and public sector investors from China, Japan and Korea as well as ASEAN. Tourism officials and investors from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam presented tourism investment opportunities. They detailed the incentives provided in their respective countries. A long track record of growth in tourism arrivals, enhanced air access within ASEAN, the advent of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015, and continued forecasts of strong GDP growth will continue to create favourable returns on investment, said speakers.
New Centres Build ASEAN Tourism Links with China, Korea and Japan
China has joined Korea and Japan in opening ASEAN centres dedicated to boosting economic, cultural and tourism links. China opened its ASEAN-China Centre in 2011, Korea in 2009 and Japan in 1981

In less than a year, the ASEAN-China Centre has held an exhibition on ASEAN tourism, organized seminars on destination Southeast Asia, facilitated ASEAN's attendance at the China International Travel Mart, and helped ASEAN target Chinese travellers through digital marketing.

The ASEAN Korea Centre has meanwhile held an annual ASEAN cultural and tourism fair since 2009, launched an ASEAN tourism guide book, helped Southeast Asian national tourism offices with Korean language content for their websites, provided Korean tourism trend lectures, carried out Korean language training courses for tourism workers in ASEAN countries, and organized multimedia competitions, art exhibitions and media exchanges. The ASEAN Korea Centre has even organized an annual "Bravo! ASEAN in Korea" program -- a nationally televised talent contest for ASEAN residents living in Korea.

This year the ASEAN-Japan Centre has conducted a tourism exchange initiative for ASEAN youths in Japan, organized a capacity building program and implemented ASEAN network, marketing and PR activities.