Abang Johari (centre) speaking to reporters during the press conference. Also seen (from left) are Rashid, Gramong and Ik Pahon (right).
KUCHING: This city will kick start the first major international event in the tourism calendar for Visit Malaysia Year 2014 when it hosts the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) 2014, which will be attended by more than 2,000 participants.
Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the forum, which runs from today till Jan 23, will be attended by tourism ministers from all 10 Asean member countries, 240 forum delegates, 10 members of the Asean National Tourism Organisation and 100 senior tourism officers from the Asean Secretariat.
“We also have high commissioners, ambassadors coming to this forum. I understand that Indonesia and Singapore are sending strong delegates to this forum,” he said in a press conference at the state Tourism Ministry office here yesterday.
In addition, he said, Asean dialogue partners such as China, Republic of Korea, Japan, India and Russia would also send delegates to the forum.
“I understand there are some more delegates coming from Brazil although they have not confirmed their attendance yet but they are partners of Asean. Meaning people will be coming to Kuching from throughout the world.”
He said among the subjects to be discussed during the meeting between Asean tourism ministers would be the direction of tourism in Asean, promotion of tourism among Asean countries as a bloc and promotion of intra-Asean travel among members of Asean.
Abang Johari said Malaysia would also propose to Asean for Sarawak to host the Asean International Film Festival and Awards (Aiffa) every two years, following the state’s success in organising the event last year.
If given the honour to host it again, he said the state hopes to make Aiffa as great as the festivals in Cannes (France) or Hong Kong.
On the programme for the forum, he said a meeting among leaders of Asean National Tourism Organisation will be held from today until tomorrow and the tourism ministers from Asean countries will meet at Pullman Hotels and Resorts here from Jan 19 to 20.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will officiate at the forum on Jan 20 during the welcoming dinner at the State Legislative Assembly complex, jointly hosted by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.
Abang Johari said the forum will also see the participation of about 1,300 delegates from 54 countries, comprising 879 sellers and 462 buyers in travel exchange (ATF Travex). The ATF Travex will be held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) from Jan 21 to 23.
“Travex is where buyers and sellers in the tourism industry have their own interfacing to explore how they can work together. I was told that 500 booths have been taken up.”
“On Jan 21, there will be international media from all regions. I was told that 184 media members comprising 22 members from Europe, nine from Asia, 32 from Asean, five from the US and Canada, five from Australia and two from the Middle East will be in Kuching.
“On that day, CNN will be hosting a golf tournament at Damai (Golf and Country Club) and this tournament will include all the international media members. Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan and Assistant Minister of Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh will be representing the ministers in the golf tournament.”
Coincidentally, Abang Johari said, ATF 2014 is held during the Visit Sarawak Year in conjunction with the state’s 50th anniversary of independence in Malaysia.
The closing ceremony of the forum will be held on Jan 23 and during the ceremony, Malaysia will be handing over the baton as the host to Myanmar.
Among those present during the press conference were Assistant Tourism Minister Datuk Gramong Juna, state Tourism Ministry permanent secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik and Sarawak Tourism Board chief executive officer Dato Rashid Khan.