ASEAN Tourism Forum 2019 Held in Vietnam

This event saw the participation of about 1,800 delegates including leaders of ASEAN NTOs and partner countries, international organizations, representatives from Embassies of ASEAN and partner countries in Viet Nam, domestic and international press agencies.

In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam emphasized that ATF 2019 was a part of the efforts of Viet Nam and each state member to develop ASEAN into a prosperous and prestigious region and a reliable partner of many countries around the world. The event also plays a significant role in achieving the goal – “by 2025, ASEAN will become a quality travel destination, offering a unique and diverse ASEAN experience, with the commitment to developing responsible and sustainable tourism, contributing significantly to the socio-economic prosperity of ASEAN”.

ATF 2019 should focus on such priorities as developing ASEAN into a common destination of high quality and unique cultural identity, boosting intra-regional tourism, enhancing cooperation and mobilization of resources to invest in infrastructure, product development, human resource training, expanding markets, facilitating tourists in accessing destinations, ensuring security and safety for visitors, said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam.

At the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thien – Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism informed that in recent years, the Vietnamese Government has paid much attention and invested in tourism development. Viet Nam's tourism increasingly affirms its position of a spearhead economic sector. According to UNWTO, Viet Nam ranked 6thout of 10 fastest growing tourist destinations in the world, with a growth rate of about 30% in recent years.

In 2018, Viet Nam welcomed 15.5 million international visitor arrivals, serving over 80 million domestic trippers; direct contribution of the tourism industry to GDP reached approximately 8%.

Viet Nam has been voted by many prestigious international organizations as an attractive destination endowed with rich cultural identity, wonderful nature, friendly and hospitable people. In 2017, Viet Nam was honored as the best golf destination in the Asia-Pacific. In 2018, Viet Nam was awarded "Asia's Leading Destination" at the 25thannual World Tourism Awards (WTA).

ATF 2019 includes a series of activities such as ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meetings, meetings of ASEAN NTOs and ASEAN NTOs with partners, ASEAN Tourism Conference, TRAVEX…

Hong Nhung