In the recent years now, the entire tourism industry of ASEAN has been witnessing a steady and encouraging growth which continues to reaffirm itself as a key driver of socio-economic development in the ASEAN member countries. Tourism activities have been making positive contributions to the economic development, serving as a cultural linkage to further enhance understanding among peoples, consolidate friendly cooperation as well as maintain stability in ASEAN region.

It is strongly confident that the ATF 2009 featuring the theme of "ASEAN Tourism - Striving to a new Height", a significant tourism event of the ASEAN Community to be organized from 05 to 12 January, 2009 in the Capital City of Ha Noi, Viet Nam will be a firm span bridging all members in the ASEAN Tourism family, at the same time enabling tourism partners and stakeholders in the region and the world as a whole to seek for business cooperative opportunities, market expansion; and exchange matters of common interests, thus finding out effective solutions to deal with potential hindrances and challenges in order to promote the development of regional countries to a new height.

May I avail of this opportunity to convey my best wishes for ever closer cooperation among the ASEAN member countries and ever more burgeoning of the ASEAN Tourism industry, matching with the existing potentials and advantages, and satisfying the wills and expectations of peoples in the region, therefore making important contributions to the growth and development of regional and global tourism, for the common prosperity of all peoples.
 
CHAIRMAN OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF ATF 2009