VN welcomes more than 1m foreign visitors in Jan

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the flow of tourists from most markets witnessed an increase, with China topping the list (up 67.9 per cent).
It was followed by Laos (up 41.7 per cent), Russia (36.5 per cent), Belgium (27.6 per cent), Sweden (27.3 per cent), Spain (27.2 per cent), the Netherlands (24 per cent), New Zealand (20.8 per cent) and Finland (18 per cent).
Meanwhile, the number of domestic holidaymakers reached 5.7 million in January. Total earnings from tourism services hit 38.6 trillion dong (US$1.7 billion, Bt60 billion), representing an increase of 28.5 per cent year on year.
Vietnam’s tourism sector expects to welcome 11.5 million international visitors and served 66 million domestic holidaymakers in 2017, making revenue of 460 trillion dong.
The sector also aims to receive between 17 million and 20 million international tourists and serve 82 million domestic visitors by 2020, contributing 10 per cent of gross domestic product. Its revenue from tourism is expected to reach $35 billion. – Viet Nam News

After TPP, Malaysia to 
bank on Asean, Asia 
Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed said the withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement would see Malaysia increasing its trade with Asean and other Asian countries.
As US President Donald Trump signed the executive order last week to withdraw officially from the TPP, the measure will distance ties between the US and its Asian allies.
Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and other main TPP partners are working hard to rescue the trade deal by encouraging China, Indonesia and other Asian countries to join it.
In an interview yesterday, Mustapa, who is also the Kelantan chairman of Barisan Nasional, said Malaysia would see Asean as its priority to collaborate in trade, followed by China, South Korea, Japan and India.
He said China remained Malaysia’s largest trading partner. However, he does not see this as something new, as Malaysia is already collaborating with China. – Sin Chew Daily

Myanmar gives 202 firms
timber export licences
The Myanmar Customs Department has said that 202 companies have been officially permitted during this fiscal year to export more than 190,000 tonnes of timber products. The exporters need official permission from the Forestry Department to export wood products that are required to be in a state of “nearly finished” furniture at least. 
Myanmar stopped exporting logs in 2014 and the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry is working with the Customs Department to control timber exports, said officials. 
Customs deputy director-general San Lwin said the authorities would take stern action against officials and agents who break the law. 
Myanmar earned US$299 million (Bt10.5 billion) from timber exports in 2015-16. – Myanmar Eleven