Chiang Mai (Thailand) – September 6, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has committed to making the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Chiang Mai an organizational success, particularly the buyer-seller segment TRAVEX, which handles millions of dollars in business annually.

According to the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), demand for tourism products in Southeast Asia is growing by 10% per year, making ASEAN the fastest growing tourism region in the world.

“TRAVEX is the engine for tourism success in ASEAN,” said Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). “Therefore, we urge exhibitors to book their stands and buyers to showcase the best of Southeast Asia to the world.”

The ATF will take place from January 22nd to 26th, 2018 at the Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre (CMECC), while buyers from the travel industry will conduct business at the TRAVEX trade fair from January 24th to 26th.

"Based on its experience in organizing the Thailand Travel Mart (TTM), the TAT undoubtedly has the necessary marketing reach and buyer discipline to make TRAVEX for ASEAN run smoothly," said Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports, Ms. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, who is currently Chair of the ASEAN Tourism Ministers Group.

“Although TAT organizes TRAVEX, make no mistake: this is an ASEAN trade fair featuring leading tourism products from all 10 ASEAN member states – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam,” the minister said.

Buyers from the travel industry (both organized and unorganized travel) must meet strict criteria: They must be able to demonstrate experience in the tourism or travel business, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region; they must be senior decision-makers or advisors, negotiators, and influencers from a high-responsibility outbound travel department; they must have the authority to conclude contracts with ATF suppliers and make purchasing decisions directly at the show; they must have experience in organizing group travel and events to various destinations; they must be able to demonstrate consistent travel purchases; and they must be able to prove that they regularly work with travel providers in the leisure travel or MICE sector.

To participate in ATF Travex 2018, please visit www.atfthailand2018.com

ATF facts at a glance: Approximately 47% of ATF buyers come from Europe, 15% from the Asia-Pacific region, 9% from the Americas, 4% from Oceania and 3% from the Middle East.

ATF 2017 in Singapore had 660 exhibitors, 13,000 planned buyer-seller meetings and over 2,500 attendees.

In 2017, 36% of exhibitors were accommodation providers, 25% were travel agencies or tour operators, 17% were national tourism organisations or convention and tourism bureaus, 8.5% were travel technology companies and 3% were in the transport sector.

The ATF in Chiang Mai 2018 will be the 37th edition of the trade fair and the sixth time it has been held in Thailand.

The motto for 2018 is: ASEAN – Sustainable networking, boundless prosperity.

ASEAN is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary with the “Visit ASEAN@50 Golden Celebration” campaign, which aims to increase the number of international tourist arrivals in the region from 109 million in 2015 to 121 million by the end of 2017.

For comprehensive information on travel and tourism in ASEAN, visit: VisitASEAN.org