Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) In Chiang Mai 2018 – Asia DMC Showcases Sustainability

ATF is one of the largest annual travel trade events in Asia, rotating each year between the ten ASEAN member countries. This year is Thailand’s turn to organise the event, and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has selected the northern cultural hub of Chiang Mai as the host city. ATF 2018 will run under the theme: ‘ASEAN – Sustainable Connectivity, Boundless Prosperity’.

This theme coincides perfectly with the activities of ASIA DMC, which now operates in seven ASEAN countries and is focused on sustainable development. The company’s Managing Directors for Thailand and Myanmar will be exhibiting at booth number I03 at the ATF’s Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) trade fair, which takes place on 25th and 26th January 2018 at the Chiang Mai International Exhibition & Convention Centre (CMECC).

“We are delighted to be returning to ATF this year to showcase our many regional activities and commitments to the regional and international travel trade,” commented ASIA DMC’s Thailand Managing Director, Andre van der Marck. “As a proud Southeast Asian company, we aim to deliver the timeless values of Asian hospitality to all our guests, whilst also preserving the environmental and cultural diversity of the region.”

“ASIA DMC is fully committed to sustainable development, social engagement and environmental preservation in every destination in which we operate. 2017 was our 20th anniversary year and we celebrated by launching a series of key environmental initiatives, including our Roots and Fruits campaign, GREENoffice initiative and achieving Travelife Partner status. We will continue to develop new programmes in 2018 that are dedicated to sustainability, all across the ASEAN region and beyond,” added ASIA DMC’s Myanmar Managing Director Gerben Bloemendaal.

Roots and Fruits was a dual-purpose campaign that saw ASIA DMC plant hundreds of fruit trees in remote regions, helping to provide local communities with fresh fruit and absorbing CO2. The GREENoffice programme included the appointment of ASIA DMC staff members as GREEN Champion and Ambassadors, and setting ambitious targets for conserving energy and water, recycling and purchasing environmentally-friendly products.

In a major milestone for the company, ASIA DMC’s operations in Vietnam achieved Partner status with Travelife, the leading training, management and certification initiative for tourism companies, in 2017. Looking ahead to this year, the company will work towards Travelife Partner status for its other regional offices, including Thailand and Myanmar. And in 2019, ASIA DMC is aiming to achieve the highest level of Travelife certification for its Vietnam office.