Indonesian Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry announced that tourism ministers from 10 Southeast Asian nations will gather in Manado, North Sulawesi, on January 8-15 for the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) and a Travel Exchange (Travex) exhibition.

“The 2012 ATF will be held in Manado because the city is a world class MICE destination,” Tourism and Creative Economy Deputy Minister Sapta Nirwanadar said.

He says the ATF meeting would be organized at the Grand Kawanua Convention Centre starting from January 13 and would be attended by the United Nations' World Tourism Organization Secretary General and many tourism industry figures.

On the other hand, the Travex exhibition would draw together buyers and sellers of ASEAN tourism. The event was expected to be attended by 400 buyers, 900 sellers and 100 members of the international media. Buyers will come from all over the world, including Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the US, while sellers will be from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

FTNnews.com is also attending ATF Travex exhibition and will bring more detailed news about MICE industry in Indonesia.

Indonesia had previously hosted the ATF in Bandung in 1986, Jakarta in 1991 and Yogyakarta in 1996.

more information: http://www.indonesia.travel/ and http://www.atfindonesia.com/