Manado, N Sulawesi - Vice President Boediono opened the 31st ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Manado, North Sulawesi, on Wednesday, by striking the local traditional gong.

Speaking in English, the Vice President said the forum has become increasingly important to the relations between the ASEAN member countries and at the same time boosting tourism development in the region. Tourism, he added, has become an important contributor to the economy.

In the meantime the Vice President flanked by Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Marie Elka Pangestu opened the event after flying three hours from Halim Perdana Kusumah airport in Jakarta to Sam Ratulangi airport in Manado.

He flew from Halim at 1.30 pm (1.30 local time) by a special Boeing 737 plane of the Indonesian Air Force and arrived at Sam Ratulangi at 5.45. He was scheduled to return to Jakarta after the opening and arrived at Halim at 23.00.

The ASEAN Tourism Forum is an annual affair held by 10 ASEAN member countries to introduce tourist destinations and promote tourism in the ASEAN member countries.

In 2012, the ASEAN Tourism Forum is held in Manado, Indonesia, from January 8 to 15, this time the 31st since it was inaugurated in Malaysia back in 1981.

Today`s program is attended by more than 900 exhibitors from Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia, and visited by more than 300 buyers.