Laos, a landlocked country traversed by the Mekong River and known for its natural beauty, French colonial architecture and Buddhist monasteries, will play host to ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) from January 15 to 19, 2024.
TRAVEX meetings between buyers and sellers will be held at Laos ITECC Exhibition Centre in capital city Vientiane. Meetings among ASEAN tourism government bodies and private sector tourism organisations will also be hosted in Vientiane but the venue has not been finalised at press time.
![Laos preens for ATF 2024 1 LAOS 640 v1](http://ttgasia.2017.ttgasia.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/LAOS_640_v1.jpg)
There will be organised tours for buyers and media to Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang.
Sengsoda Vanthanouvong, deputy director-general of Tourism Marketing Department, shared that approximately 350 sellers from South-east Asia and 200 foreign buyers are expected next year.
Sharing excitement about her country playing host next year, she said: “It will be an opportunity for Laos to showcase new products and services in Vientiane and elsewhere, as well as our local hospitality to tourism professionals.
“So much has changed in Vientiane since we last hosted ATF, also in the capital, back in 2012. This will be an opportunity for overseas tourism operators to see what Laos has to offer as well as to network with our tourism players.”