The 35th instalment of the ASEAN Travel Forum (ATF) is midway through. In particular, it is showcasing products and services from over 40 destinations across the 10 ASEAN countries, with a representation of more than 450 exhibition booths on the show floor. Host Philippines is showcasing 13 regions from across the country. Manila’s Entertainment City is the home to key ATF activities, including the three-day TRAVEX travel trade mart from 20 to 22 January 2016, held at the SMX Convention Centre Manila.

ATF has been a key trade event for the Philippines that has proven to produce good results for our travel suppliers over the years. This showing at ATF 2016 is clearly one of the Philippines’ best, with over 150 exhibiting booths from across the country. Participation at ATF 2016 also includes a strong showing of corporate hotel chains such as CHM Hotels, FRHI Hotels & Resorts, Furama Hotels International, HPL Hotels & Resorts, Park Hotel Group, Premier Inn Hotel, Sol Melia, InterContinental Hotels Group, Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts, Best Western International, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, AccorHotels, Pan Pacific Hotels Group and Wyndham Hotel Group.

At the ASEAN Tourism Forum Opening Ceremony, Philippine President Benigno Aquino gave the keynote address to all the ATF delegates. It was a mostly tourism related speech, but nice to see a head of state speak at this function, attesting to the importance of this major function.