Vientiane, 26 October 2020 — After just two years of organizing the ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Solutions (ASTSE) on the ground in Laos, the event has expanded and made itself accessible worldwide by going online. ASTSE is the region’s leading specialized fair for the tourism industry to celebrate, explore, and exhibit the latest trends, insights, and technology in sustainable tourism and hospitality practices.
Twenty exhibitors from around Southeast Asia and further abroad will showcase their products, services, and initiatives over the course of the event, which takes place on 5–6 November 2020. The virtual expo, which is free to attend, is powered by the vFairs platform, which has held similar events for companies and institutions such as Unilever, T-Mobile, and New York University. The exhibitors represent several categories relevant to the theme of the event: eco-friendly hotel supplies, plastic alternatives, water, and energy conservation systems, as well as initiatives and projects.
One of the most enriching parts of the expo will be its symposia program, bringing together renowned thinkers to discuss topics that matter greatly to the regional tourism industry. On Thursday, 5 November 2020, there will be four live panel discussions, namely, “The Future of Tourism in ASEAN,” “Crisis Communications for Tourism Destinations,” “Using Technology to Improve Sustainability in Hospitality Businesses,” “How Can We Come Together to Support Tourism-Dependent Communities?,” as well as a workshop entitled “Reducing Plastic Waste While Keeping Your Guests Safe.” On the second day of the expo, 6 November 2020, visitors can attend the panel discussion “What to Do Now to Build Back Stronger and Greener?” or the workshop “Cutting Operation Costs through Resource Efficiency.”
There will also be several on-demand webinars that visitors can access at any time during the expo. Among them, a presentation on waste-water treatment will be led by Epurtek, HotelMinder will present various ways to increase hotel bookings, while Cloversoft will introduce to visitors their array of eco-friendly products for different types of hospitality businesses.
For tourism industry professionals based in Laos, an in-person expo will be held on 6–7 November 2020 at the Crowne Plaza Vientiane, and will feature an additional 35 exhibitors, panel discussions, and a networking event.
The ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Solutions Expo is organized by the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, with support from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and supported by the German Development Cooperation. The expo’s generous sponsors include USAID, the Lao/029 Skills for Tourism Project, TTG Asia, and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office.
For a complete list of exhibitors, a full schedule, or details about symposia and speakers, please visit the website of the virtual ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Solutions Expo: astse.vfairs.com or follow the expo’s Facebook page for regular updates: www.facebook.com/ASEAN.STSE.
