Vietnam to host joint regional UN tourism meeting

The 22nd Joint Meeting of the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Commissions for East Asia and the Pacific, and South Asia will be held in Hanoi from May 10-12.
Hanoi will be the venue for the UNWTO conference titled “Tourism: A Key Driver for Socio-Economic Development in Asia and the Pacific” which will take place at the same time.
According to Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT)’s International Co-operation Department Pham Xuan Hung, the meeting is expected to attract 300 delegates, including 100 representatives from tourism agencies of 26 member countries of the Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the Commission for South Asia as well as international and non-governmental organisations.
Participants will discuss and propose policies and measures to develop tourism in the region and facilitate transportation, Hung said at a press briefing on April 19.
They will also discuss ways to strengthen co-operation between the two commissions on the implementation of tourism promotion activities, the positive impact of tourism on community in terms of hunger alleviation and poverty reduction efforts, as well as exchange experiences on sustainable tourism development, Hung added.
The hosting of the meeting will help Vietnam's tourism sector affirm its position and role in regional and international integration as well as boost co-operation with UNWTO and the 26 member countries of the two commissions in the implementation of joint projects in the future.
“The meeting will provide a good chance for Vietnam to popularise its culture and tourism prospects to such promising markets as Japan, the Republic of Korea and China,” Hung said.
Vietnam will attend international fairs and market promotion campaigns in Spain, Germany, Russia, Australia and China, and promote the country’s image on international TV channels via tourism programmes to elevate its tourism potential abroad, VNAT Deputy Head of the Market Development Department Nguyen Thanh Huong said.
Advertising for tourism to Vietnam will also be positioned in underground stations in Tokyo and Vietnam’s consulate in Osaka, Japan, she added. (VNA)