(15/02/24) Rotating alphabetically between the ten member countries that make up ASEAN, the annual ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) traditionally takes place in January and is one of the most important yearly travel trade shows and conferences for those who sell the region.
This year, it was the beautiful and still relatively undiscovered country of Laos that was the host. The main ATF events took place in Vientiane, the capital city, and from there many of the delegates went on post-mart trips to experience places like Nam Pien, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang.
Luang Prabang is a treasure trove of important historical and cultural buildings. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com
The post-mart trips not only allow delegates to see for themselves what a destination has to offer, but also allow the host country to show off new infrastructure developments such as the recently opened highway between Vientiane and Vang Vieng, which has cut the travel time by road from about 4 hours down to just 1 hour, as well as the new high-speed train service that operates between Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang.
The ATF is also used by each member country to update international travel trade media on the latest visitor arrival numbers, tourism revenue, targets moving forward, new visa strategies, air connectivity and any other new developments and projects that they wish to promote.
Below you will find nine exclusive video interviews conducted with VIPs working within the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. The interviews, each available in HD video and podcast formats, include: Crowne Plaza Vientiane and Holiday Inn & Suites Vientiane; Settha Palace Hotel in Vientiane; Cosi Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel; Inthira Vang Vieng Hotel; S Vang Vieng Boutique Hotel; Full Moon Island Resort in Kaoh Sdach, Cambodia; DiscoverLaos; Lao Airlines; and the Dansavanh Nam Ngum Resort.
In addition to the nine exclusive video interviews featured below, Travel News Asia also published videos of the NTO press conferences held during the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024.
The ASEAN Tourism Forum 2025 will take place in Johor Bahru, Malaysia from 19-25 January 2025.
Nine Exclusive Video Interviews with VIPs at ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos Crowne Plaza Vientiane and Holiday Inn & Suites Vientiane, Laos – Interview with Murali Viswanathan, Cluster General Manager
PODCAST
Your browser does not support this audio element.
Settha Palace Hotel in Vientiane, Laos – Interview with Hala Krimi, General Manager
PODCAST
Your browser does not support this audio element.
COSI Vientiane Nam Phu – Exclusive Interview with Pasin Nopsuwan at the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos
PODCAST
Your browser does not support this audio element.
Inthira Vang Vieng Hotel in Laos – Interview with Charles-David Hay, General Manager
PODCAST
Your browser does not support this audio element.
S Vang Vieng Boutique Hotel in Vang Vieng, Laos – Interview with Sengnikone Bouphaphanh
PODCAST
Your browser does not support this audio element.
Full Moon Island Resort in Kaoh Sdach, Cambodia – Interview with Indra Khanitha Lay Prohas
PODCAST
Your browser does not support this audio element.
DiscoverLaos – Interview with Southisack Sayasavanh, Tours Director
PODCAST
Your browser does not support this audio element.
Lao Airlines – Interview with Chanthanon Khampheng, Deputy Director, Commercial and Marketing
PODCAST
Your browser does not support this audio element.
Dansavanh Nam Ngum Resort in Laos – Interview with Michelle Wang, Travel Director
PODCAST
Your browser does not support this audio element.
See also: Videos of the NTO Press Conferences at the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos.
Latest exclusive video interviews: 9 HD Video Interviews from Routes Asia 2024 in Langkawi, Malaysia; Standard to Open Residences in Hua Hin and Phuket, Thailand; Video Interview with Amar Lalvani, Executive Chairman; 9 Exclusive Video Interviews from ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos; 8 NTO Press Conferences from ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos; 13 HD Video Interviews from World Travel Market 2023 in London, England; 5 HD Video Interviews from APG World Connect 2023 in Monaco, France; 15 HD Video Interviews from Routes World 2023 in Istanbul, Türkiye; and Electric Airport Taxis at Almaty Airport (ALA) in Kazakhstan – HD Video Interview with CEO.
Headlines: Sabre to Upgrade Japanese Hotel Company’s Distribution and Retailing Strategy Air Astana Upgrades Safety Training with CEET and RFFT Simulators in Astana, Kazakhstan Dean Dimitriou Returns to The Murray Hong Kong as Hotel General Manager ASM Global Appoints Matthew Lazarus-Hall as EVP Entertainment & Content Thai Lion Air Launches Bangkok – Kochi Flights; Appoints Çelebi as Ground Handler Onyx Hospitality Signs Shama Serviced Apartments in Rayong, Thailand AirAsia X to Resume Flights Between Kuala Lumpur and Changsha, China IndiGo to Launch Kozhikode – Kochi – Agatti Flights Neste Supplying Emirates with SAF at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport; Changi Next Amadeus Completes Acquisition of Vision-Box AirJapan Enhances Operations with Radixx PSS New Zealand Men and Women Win Final Sevens Tournament at Hong Kong Stadium Korean Air to Operate Seasonal Charter Flights Between Seoul Incheon and Taichung, Taiwan Pegasus Airlines Launches Flights Between Ankara and Lisbon, Portugal Smiths Detection Appoints Jerome de Chassey as President AirAsia X Resumes Flights Between Kuala Lumpur and Xi’an, China Cathay Cargo Resumes Freighter Flights from Saigon, Vietnam SITA Publishes White Paper on Role of Biometrics in Air Travel Cheval Collection Expands Global Hotel Alliance’s Portfolio to Serviced Apartments Langham Rebrands Hotel in Foshan, China Aviation: International Passenger Demand Up 26.3%; Asia Pacific Airlines Report 53.2% Increase International Air Cargo Demand Up 12.4% in February 2024; Capacity Up 16% L’Occitane Group Appoints Green Yip as Regional MD – Travel Retail Asia Pacific Le Bristol Paris Appoints Arnaud Faye as Executive Chef Chris Kemlo Appointed General Manager of The Calile Hotel in Brisbane, Australia Sabre Space Roadshow to Take Place in Delhi and Mumbai, India Malaysia Airlines and IndiGo to Codeshare Accor Expands Portfolio with 22 Hotels in Japan Hong Kong Airlines Resumes Flights to Kagoshima, Japan FlyArystan Receives AOC from Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan Marriott Opens Resort on Perhentian Keci Island in Terengganu, Malaysia AirAsia Malaysia Resumes Kuching – Penang and Kota Kinabalu – Penang Flights Hong Kong Stadium Prepares for Final Sevens; International Fans Buy Over 40% of Tickets ExecuJet Opens New MRO Facility at Subang Airport Near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Michelle Freyre to Join United Airlines’ Board of Directors Lloyd’s Inn Kuala Lumpur to Open 1 April Korean Air Unveils New Maintenance, Aerospace, Cargo and Ground Handling Uniforms SalamAir to Launch Flights Between Muscat and Tirana, Albania IHG Unveils New Staybridge, Candlewood and Atwell Suites Prototypes in USA DHL Aviation Extends Partnership with Worldwide Flight Services in France United Airlines Installing Larger Overhead Bins on Embraer E175 Fleet Not Everyone Wants to Use an App; Bonza Enhances Booking Options with Website Amadeus Expands Travel4Impact Globally; Applications Open Until 30 April Asia Pacific Airlines Carried 27 Million Int. Passengers in February; Cargo Demand Up 10.2% Aris Maroulis Joins TUMI as Vice President Asia-Pacific and the Middle East AirAsia Malaysia to Resume Flights Between Kuala Lumpur and Vientiane, Laos First Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Western Australia Opens in Murdoch, Perth Qantas Appoints Nick McGlynn as Executive Vice President – Asia HotelREZ Renews Partnership with Sabre Hospitality Marlon Abeyakoon Appointed GM of NH Collection Maldives Havodda Hotel Amex GBT Signs Deal to Buy CWT Korean Air Connects Cargo Booking System with DHL Global Forwarding Sean Seah Returns to Langham as Senior Vice President – Strategy, Technology and Innovation Radisson Targets 25 Hotels in Morocco by 2030; Expands Role of Erwan Garnier Airbus to Enhance Cybersecurity Capabilities with Infodas Acquisition Mandarin Oriental Exclusive Homes Adds 16-Bedroom Chateau in France to Portfolio Korean Air to Order 33 Airbus A350 Aircraft AAPA to Host Turboprop Safety Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Nassau, Bahamas to Host Routes Americas 2025 in February FlyAngola Appoints APG as Offline GSA in Portugal AirAsia Cambodia Prepares for Take Off Alex Schellenberger Joins Mandarin Oriental as Senior Vice President Brand Ethiopian Airlines Opens E-Commerce Logistics Facility at Bole Addis Ababa Airport Routes Americas 2024 Taking Place in Bogota, Colombia Air Botswana Appoints APG as GSA in 16 Markets Korean Air to Resume More Flights; Increase Services to Select Destinations WestJet Appoints APG as Representative in South Korea; Airline to Launch YYC-ICN Flights in May Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Opens in Fukui, Japan Rolls-Royce to Expand Engine Build and Services Capacity in UK and Germany United Airlines to Launch Los Angeles – Shanghai Flights; Increase LAX – HKG Service Nine Exclusive HD Video Interviews from Routes Asia 2024 in Langkawi, Malaysia AirAsia X Launches Direct Flights Between Kuala Lumpur and Almaty, Kazakhstan Singapore Airlines Revamps Premium Economy Class with New Menu and Amenity Kit Amadeus Completes Acquisition of Voxel Minor to Rebrand NH Museum Quarter Hotel in Amsterdam, Netherlands U-Tapao Airport (UTP) in Rayong / Pattaya, Thailand – HD Video Interview with Ampika Chadawong IndiGo to Launch Flights Between Mumbai and Colombo, Sri Lanka Perth Airport (PER) in Western Australia – HD Video Interview with Stephanie Juszkiewicz China Airlines to Launch Flights Between Taipei and Seattle, USA TUMI Launches Capsule Collection in Partnership with NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team AirAsia Malaysia to Resume Flights Between Kuala Lumpur and Pattaya, Thailand Thai Airways to Launch Flights from Bangkok to Colombo, Kochi and Perth Munich Airport (MUC) in Bavaria, Germany – HD Video Interview with Michael Haeffner Japan Tourism, World Expo 2025 and Japan Expo 2025 – HD Video Interview with Akira Watabe of JNTO BBN Airlines Indonesia Receives Additional AOC from DGCA Vietnam Airlines to Launch Flights from HAN and SGN to Munich Airport in Bavaria, Germany Sabre Launches Booking Solution for New and Independent Travel Consultants AirAsia Malaysia Launches A321neo Flights Between Kuala Lumpur and Perth, Australia Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Program – HD Video Interview with Rashed Alshammari, Vice President Commercial Lui Chong Chee to Succeed Bob Tan as Chairman of the Boards of CapitaLand Ascott Trust Sabah Tourism Board – HD Video Interview with Julinus Jeffery Jimit, Chief Executive Officer Berlin Airport (BER) – HD Video Interview with Simon Miller, Senior Manager Market Intelligence IndiGo to Launch Flights Between Chandigarh and Dharamshala, India Skyco Partners Airbus; Orders Six H175 Helicopters Jumeirah Appoints Michael Grieve as Chief Brand Officer Cam Ranh Airport (CXR) in Nha Trang, Vietnam – HD Video Interview with Le Thi Hong Minh Mercure Langkawi Pantai Cenang – HD Video Interview with Hotel GM, Jasmine Keh Courtyard by Marriott Phnom Penh Appoints Lenen Mar Porras as ADOSM United Confirms Flights to Cebu, Philippines as Airline Expands Network Jumeirah Soft Opens First Hotel in Saudi Arabia IHG Signs Two Luxury Hotels in KAFD Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Qatar Airways’ NDC Content Now Available on Travelport+ Estelle Vassallo Moves to Italy as GM of Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel Aviation: International RPK Up 20.8% in January 2024 Amora Completes Refurbishment and Rebranding of Hotel in Brisbane, Australia Scoot Unveils Embraer E190-E2 Routes IndiGo to Launch Flights from Jagdalpur to Hyderabad and Raipur Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2024 Opens Online Registration for Buyers and Sellers 9 Exclusive Video Interviews with VIPs at ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos 8 NTO Press Conferences from the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos 13 Exclusive HD Video Interviews from World Travel Market 2023 in London, England 5 Exclusive HD Video Interviews from APG World Connect 2023 in Monaco, France 15 Exclusive HD Video Interviews from Routes World 2023 in Istanbul, Türkiye Electric Airport Taxis at Almaty Airport in Kazakhstan – Video Interview with Co-Founder Pictures from Miss International Queen 2023 Transgender Beauty Pageant in Pattaya, Thailand Exclusive Video Interviews with 17 Miss International Queen 2023 Contestants Living With One Eye – Six Years On by Steven Howard HD Videos and Interviews Podcasts from HD Video Interviews RSS Feed – Travel Industry News Ticker – Travel Industry News Travel Industry News Archives Travel Trade Shows High-Res Picture Galleries Travel News Asia – Latest Travel Industry News