KOTFA 2018 – The Best International Travel Fair in KoreaThe Korea World Travel Fair (KOTFA) is, with its 33 years history, the largest international travel fair in Korea where 70 countries are participating to promote their tourism resources and cultures.The KOTFA is the only international travel fair in Korea where the official tourism organizations at home and abroad are participating and sponsoring.The KOTFA is supporting to strengthen the competitiveness of the tourism industry in Korea by combining inbound, outbound and intrabound tourism together and providing a market place for mutual relationship among tourism businesses at home and abroad.The KOTFA is constantly pursuing the public concerns by providing various benefits to enable the developing countries to participate in the Fair, and enlarging the international relationship.The KOTFA dedicates to encourage the sound tourism of Korean travelers by offering various information of domestic and foreign tourism attractions.

Here with the Travel Agency of Luang Prabang(LAOS) More information of tourist program and tourism of Luang Prabang, please refer the agency list.

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Culture Exchange at G-2 Festival 1. Overview O Period : February 2 ~ 7, 2016 (G-2 Olympic Boom Up Festival) O Venue : Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Korea O Major Outcome - Performances by Yogyakartarsquos SMKI(Yogyakarta Vocational Highschool of ART): Angguk Kenya Rinengga Dance Batik Dance - Performances by Quangninhrsquos Art Troupe of Quangninh: Solo monochord and Trsquorung Solo with dance - Performances by Tottorirsquos Art Troupe from Hakuho Highschool: Dance of Umbrella and Dance of Plasterers - Aired on MBC(one of the main TV broadcasting stations in Korea) - Invitation letter from Yogyakarta to Gangwon for the EATOF General Assembly 2016 - Watching the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Games For details, click here

The "Olympic Festival" event will be held around Dano Park, Gangneung-si from February 4 to 6 to celebrate the G-2 (Game-2) year till the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and wish success for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. In the opening ceremony to be held on February 4 on the special stage in Dano Park, there will be special performances by K-pop singers as well as performances by cultural and arts organizations. During the event period, there will be performances such as "cultural and art performance for one city" with the theme of the traditional culture of Gangwon-do Region, the "World DJ festival," which is a dance festival focusing on DJs, cultural performances by East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum (EATOF) members and guest performances by professional performing groups. Furthermore, test events to ensure everything is ready for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics (official homepage: www.HelloPyeongChang.com), including the "Jeongseon Alpine Ski World Cup," "PyeongChang Bokwang Snowboard World Cup," and "PyeongChang Bokwang Freestyle Ski World Cup" will be held in February. Representative winter cultural festivals of Gangwon-do Region such as the "PyeongChang Winter Music Festival (February 25~28, Alpensia and Yongpyong-myeon)", "Daegwallyeong Snow Festival(January 15 ~ February 10 2016, around Hoenggye-ri, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun)", "Jeongseon Icicle Festival (January 15 ~ 24, around Joyanggang River 2nd Bridge, Jeongseon-eup)" will also be good opportunities for visitors to Gangwon-do Region to feel the essence of winter culture. Foreign tourists who wish to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Festival (February 4, Dano Park, Gangneng-si) and the Winter Olympics test event ldquosnowboard slopestyle finalrdquo (February 21, PyeongChang Bokwang Phoenix Park) can purchase a one-day tour at www.gogoganwon.com. Attached resources 1) Overview of Olympic Festival Event 2) PyeongChang Olympics Test Events 3) Olympic Festival (G-2 Events) Tour for Foreigners Events Document File(.docx) Download here.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Cambodia attracted 4.2 million foreign tourists last year, an increase of 17.5 over the previous year, according to government statistics released Friday. A total of 4,210,165 foreign tourists visited Cambodia in 2013 against 3,584,307 in 2012. In 2003, by comparison, Cambodia received only 701,014 foreign tourists, earning US$347 million. Ten years later, earnings from the tourism sector shot up to $2.5 billion, according to the data. In 2013, Vietnamese topped arrivals with 854,104 visitors, followed by Chinese with 463,123 and South Korean with 435,009. Japanese tourists placed sixth with 206,932. The statistics also showed that 871,646 Cambodians tourists travelled abroad last year. Siem Reap province, which is a gateway to the Angkor temples, received 2,237,286 foreign tourists last year,53 of the total. [Source : eturbonews.com]

BANGKOK, Thailand - A rare piece of good news awaits Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today: the Tourism and Sports Ministry is to upgrade projected tourism revenue for 2015 to Bt2.2 trillion. Tourism Minister Somsak Pureesrisak, who will meet with the prime minister today to present his plans on how to achieve the goal, believes tourism will remain buoyant over the next two years, amid increasing inflows of Japanese and Chinese visitors in light of ongoing conflicts between the two countries. Tourism revenue is expected to reach Bt2 trillion in 2014, up from the previous Bt1.8 trillion forecast. "Tourist safety will be on the national agenda," said the minister, who yesterday asked the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to crack down on mafia gangs in Phuket. Pattaya would be the next target area, as gangsters are now involved in businesses that affect tourists, particularly jet-skis and taxis. He acknowledged that Hong Kong had warned its people to be careful of travelling to the two cities. "That is not good for the country," he said. Under the plan, Thailand aims to be a tourism hub in Asean, ting out to draw more quality tourists and to encourage them to stay longer. To facilitate this, the proposed Tourist Court must be up. The ASEAN hub goal comes at a time when the region is being urged to develop multi-country packages, to allow travellers to experience unlimited variety in terms of culture, landscape, people, flora and fauna, food, handicrafts, entertainment, shopping, recreation and excitement, within the 10 member countries of Asean. Thailand earned Bt984 billion in tourism revenue in 2012, from 22.35 million foreign visitors. By region, tourists from Europe (5.45 million) spent the highest portion, Bt357 billion, according to the Department of Tourism. By country, China topped the chart, with Bt106 billion spent by 2.76 million visitors. Most tourists were from ASEAN states at 6.3 million28 per cent overall. The new revenue target is despite a global economic malaise eating into the purchasing power of tourists in several countries. This has sharply cut demand for Thai exports. But with Thailand having already welcomed 12.7 million tourists in the first half of this year, including 2.27 million from China, private business operators are convinced the industry will remain buoyant and that the new target is achievable. Piyaman Tejapaibul, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said new infrastructure initiatives like the high-speed train would boost tourism, as the routes will facilitate travel to major provinces rich in cultural and eco-attractions. President of the Association of Domestic Travel Yutthachai Soonthornrattanavate said that concrete plans were necessary, though, for long-term development. Policies must be clear and consistent, not swayed by ad-hoc problems. He also urged for a special law to empower tourism authorities in charting development plans. He agreed that safety was a top issue, but said information gathering and dissemination was also crucial. Sansern Ngaorungsi, deputy governor for Asia and the South Pacific at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), foresaw that Chinese tourists would constitute a major part of arrivals. Despite a slowdown in China's economy, the number of arrivals is expected to hit 4.2 million this year. Plus, tourists from ASEAN would be attracted by city-to-city campaigns. Chinese tourists in the first half accounted for nearly 18 per cent of all arrivals, against the 11 per cent per cent in 2012. AirAsia expects to do well from the plan. Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia, said that while China's demand was huge, Indochina also had big potential - as shown by a 35-per-cent rise in regional tourists in the first half. The trend should continue over the next few years, he said. [Source: nationmultimedia.com]

The governments of Hong Kong and Indonesia are to strengthen their collaboration in the cruise tourism sector to bring more cruise liners to both countries. Hong Kong commissioner for tourism Philip W. H. Yung recently met with officials from the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry and the Youth and Sports Ministry to boost this sector. We will have a new cruise terminal in Hong Kong that will open in the middle of June and it will be able to berth the largest cruise ship in the world. With this infrastructure, we believe that Hong Kong and Indonesia can work together as Indonesia is a great market,rdquo Yung told The Jakarta Post recently. He said that the Asia Pacific was becoming a more attractive region for cruise liners, and Indonesia and Hong Kong could become partners by creating a joint destination promotion. We can create an interesting cruise tour package such as from Hong Kong to Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and then Indonesia. This will be a new attraction for people who enjoy on a cruise,rdquo he said. The new US$1 billion Kai Tak Cruise terminal would be much bigger than the existing Ocean Cruise Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui. The new terminal would also be able to accommodate 3,000 passengers per hour, he said. He said that Hong Kong and Indonesiarsquos governments would continue to talk with cruise liners independently and together so that the operators could see the potential major market in Asia Pacific cruise tourism. Contacted separately, Tourism and Creative Economy Ministryrsquos meeting, incentives, convention and exhibition (MICE) director Rizky Handayani welcomed the new partnership. This will help promote cruise destinations in Indonesia and will definitely expand our network to cruise operators,rdquo Rizky told the Post, adding that Hong Kong is one of the worldrsquos favorite cruise destinations. She also said the Transportation Ministry and state-owned port operator Pelindo III was committed to deepening the access channel of Benoa Port in Bali, Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya and Tanjung Emas Port in Semarang to up to 12 meters this year. The commitment, announced during the worldrsquos largest sea trade, Cruise Shipping Miami 2013, has increased cruise calls to Indonesia in 2014 to 320 calls, up from 306 calls confirmed throughout this year, according to government data so far. The number of passengers is increasing quite significantly, from 147,000 to 200,000 passengers next year as there will be more ships [with each ship] bringing more than 2,000 passengers into Indonesia,rdquo she added. In addition to that, current data shows that the cruise liners will be visiting 115 different locations in Indonesia. Yung said he went to Lombok during his visit to Indonesia to explore the islandrsquos potential because Hong Kong travelers were seeking a new holiday destination besides Bali. According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) data, the number of Hong Kong visitors to Indonesia rose by almost 10 percent annually over the past several years. The agency recorded 75,302 tourists from Hong Kong throughout last year, up by 9.26 percent from 68,923 people in 2011. Meanwhile, Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) data showed that the city welcomed about 512,000 visitors from Indonesia in 2012, roughly the same as in 2011. Although the full year figure is not yet available, spending by Indonesian visitors recorded a strong growth of 15.6 percent to HK$6,900 ($889) in the first nine months of 2012, HKTB regional director for Southeast Asia Simon Wong said. They also spent more than 50 percent of their trip expenses on shopping,rdquo Simon said. Source : eturbonews.com

Vietnam now has world-class hotels and resorts, beaches, and cuisine, in addition to its natural beauty, rich history, and traditional culture. The country receives 300,000 Australian tourists yearly, and the number of tourists increases an average of 10 annually. Australia is a very multicultural society, and many Australians are familiar with Vietnamese food and culture. Australians traveling to Vietnam are looking for a more authentic experience and seek to have a deeper understanding of the countryrsquos culture, food, history, and everyday life. While Thailand is geared more toward mass market tourism, Vietnam is a destination that is attractive to a more selective class of travelers. Vietnam is becoming more and more recognized as a safe and favored destination for high-end Australian tourists, thanks to direct and convenient flights and improvements in the tourism infrastructure. The new slogan of Vietnam tourism, ldquoTimeless charm,rdquo was created with an aim to attract travelers from Australia and elsewhere, who wish to experience the countryrsquos defining characteristics: thrills, nature, heritage, festival, pristine, enjoyment, scenery, and essence. Australia is in a strong financial position, with unemployment easing and low interest rates, plus a strong dollar. As long as the dollar remains near its current relative value, all overseas destinations remain attractive to Australian travelers. Australia is a great market for us, and we have beautiful products for Australian tastes and preferences, and we target the right clients with personalized products and services. We have increased the number private small groups we serve, primarily with tailor-made holidays. These groups are generally either from 25 to 35 years old40, the latter group having more disposable income. Australian tourists choose Vietnam for their vacations for safety, affordable prices, authenticity, and convenient direct flights. With our marketing efforts and commitments, we will attract more Australian travelers who wish to experience Vietnam in style and luxury, and encourage them stay longer. Typical stays are 1014 days, and in 4- and 5-star hotels. With our new representative office in Australia for the Australian and New Zealand markets, we are targeting double-digit growth in this market for 2013," said Pham Ha, Founder and CEO of Luxury Travel Ltd. The Australian market is among the top ten markets of Luxury Travel Ltd. The company serves 2 of total Australian tourist arrivals in Vietnam in 2011 and enjoys an increase of 20 in visitors annually. Luxury Travel Ltd.rsquos booking record indicates that Australian travelers prefer Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Hoi An Ancient Town. They also want to visit Halong Bay, Cat Ba Island, the Mekong Delta, and Sapa, while many also combine Vietnam and Cambodia in one trip. Except for AIME in Melbourne, there are no major travel trade shows in Australia, so we have joined VNAT and Vietnam Airlines in their road shows to promote our upscale products. Our representatives work hard to promote destinations, educate local travel agents, and generate public interest in Vietnam as a holiday destination. To help our travel agents and tour operators to sell our Vietnam luxury tours, I invite travel professionals to do a 10-day familiarization trip to Vietnam. Participants receive a certificate confirming their status as a lsquoLuxury Travel Special-ist after the trip," said Pham Ha, ldquoThis is the perfect way to learn more about Vietnam and some of the most dynamic new products available for 2012-2013. This tour blends innovative touring with hotel inspections to give agents insight into the destinations and become true luxury travel advisors." Hanoi-based Luxury Travel Ltd. ( www.luxurytravelvietnam.com ) has announced joint efforts with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) in order to promote luxury travel products in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, from October 8-13, 2012. Luxury Travel Ltd. is a long-established Asian special-ist in luxury privately-guided and fully bespoke holidays in Vietnam and the Indochinese peninsula. Vietnamrsquos first luxury tour operator/DMC ( www.luxurytravelvietnam.com ) based in Hanoi with offices throughout Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, Luxury Travel is exceptional in designing tailor-made tours and providing unique travel experiences. Opened in 2004, the Luxury Travel Company Limited has its own offices, luxury vehicles, luxury travel advisors, and representative offices in California, London, Paris, and Sydney. The companyrsquos depth of experience and large infrastructure enable it to create unique itineraries with the operational confidence to fulfill client expectations. Luxury Travel Ltd. won numerous travel awards for excellent performance, including the most recent Guide Award 2012: ldquoa long-established Asian special-ist in the art of travel and serves today most sophisticated travelers with luxury privately-guided and fully bespoke holidays. Source: luxurytravelvietnam.com

Sep 27, 2012 MANILA, Philippines - The PATA Travel Mart 2012 opened today in Manila, Philippines. Some 925 attendees have joined the 3-day annual B2B travel industry event, organized by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and hosted by The Department of Tourism and Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines. At the opening press briefing, PATA CEO Martin Craigs told media: ldquoThere is real momentum and clarity about PATA 's new core value propositions of PATA mPower insights, innovative events, aligned advocacy, and human resource capacity building for the industry.rdquo When Manila hosted the first PATA Travel Mart in 1978, just over 300 delegates attended. The PATA CEO said: ldquoOver 30 years later, our PATA Travel Mart remains at the forefront of a crowded travel event calendar. It has stayed ahead by prioritizing quality B2B buyer-seller interactions in order to build business for members.rdquo The PATA CEO today told media at the Mart venue, the SMX Convention Center, that for the 2012 Mart, 454 seller delegates representing 233 organizations had booked almost 3,000 square meters of floor space. Of 233 seller organizations, 93 were first-time sellers to the Mart. In total, some 29 seller destinations (countries and territories) were present. PATA reported that the Mart had also attracted 304 buyer delegates from 287 organizations across 52 countries and territories. There were 85 journalists attending from 14 source markets. Some 94 buyers were first-timers to the Mart. PATA Travel Mart 2012 was officially opened today with a ceremony in front of the trade floor presided over by Undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Tourism, Daniel G. Corpuz, and PATA Vice Chairman, Rick Antonson. At the opening reception dinner on September 25, the PATA Vice Chairman Antonson told delegates: ldquoThis week's Mart promises to be a highly-energetic affair full of great business opportunities. The Philippine economy is turning into a remarkable success story. I believe that the 2012 PATA Mart will also benefit from our being in the Philippines with its mood of growth and optimism.rdquo To applause he told delegates: ldquoBe ready to be pleasantly surprised by an upbeat lsquocan do' attitude on the Mart floor this week. That's how they do it in the Philippines.rdquo The Philippine Department of Tourism is a member of the International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP), a fast-growing grassroots travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth. ICTP Chairman Juergen T. Steinmetz is currently in the Philippines attending the PATA Travel Mart. For further information, email communications@PATA.orgvisit www.PATA.org . Source: pata.org