Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen tonight received a plaque as next year's Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) host.

She received the ATF plaque from Laotian Vice-Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Chaleune Warinthrasak at the Lao International Exhibition and Convention Centre here.

Malaysia will host the 33rd ATF in Kuching, Sarawak from Jan 16 to 23, next year.

Dr Ng said, although Asean was small, it could be a force to be reckoned with, in the regional tourism industry, if they stood together.

Asean, she said, received 81 million tourists last year and hoped the region could be the most visited region by tourists in the world in future.

She said, next year's ATF would be the first premier event in ushering the Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

In her message published in the 33rd ATF booklet, she said Asean had to adopt a sustainable development approach as a cornerstone in its tourism initiatives and tourism development plans, in line with the mantra, "Tourism conserves, preserves and protects".

Dr Ng said the ATF 2014 theme, 'Asean - Advancing Tourism Together', was timely for Asean to think and act on implementing innovative sustainable energy initiatives which would ensure the preservation of the natural environment for the future generation.

Sarawak is home to the world's oldest tropical rainforest, believed to be millions of years old.

ATF, among others, is aimed at projecting Asean as an attractive, multi-faceted, single tourism destination and strengthening cooperation among the various sectors of the Asean tourism industry.

The first ATF was held in Genting Highlands and Malaysia has hosted five ATF, thus far, with the last in 2005.

The current ATF is attended by 1,600 delegates, which includes 150 Asean tourism ministers and officials, 800 Asean exhibitors, 400 international buyers, 150 international and local media, as well as 100 tourism trade visitors.