Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Philippines is set to host the 2016 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Forum (ATF) from January 18 to January 22. It is a cooperative effort aimed at promoting the region as a single tourist destination.
The annual gathering brings together member countries of the ASEAN “to discuss innovations, trends, and developments in the tourism industry and facilitate joint policy formulations to accelerate the growth of the region’s tourism,” Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said in a message posted on the ATF 2016 website.
This year’s theme is “One Community for Sustainability.”
For its 35th edition, the forum will launch the new ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2016 – 2020. Jimenez explained that the new plan would work towards “the development and growth of the region’s tourism” as well as “ensuring that this growth is grounded on responsible, sustainable, and inclusive tourism.”
The Tourism secretary said that the region is described as “fiercely competitive,” and that the more they compete the closer they gravitate towards growth.
In particular he mentioned “coopetition” as the term that characterizes the region. He described the term as a “cooperative, collaborative decision by all players to compete with each other so that the world will choose the region before choosing the country.”
