TOURISM MINISTERIAL ROUNDTABLE MEETING

Under the framework of the Opening Ceremony of the Visit Viet Nam Year 2016, on April 10^th 2016, at Phu Quoc District, Kien Giang Province, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the People’ Committee of Kien Giang Province held the Tourism Ministerial Roundtable Meeting.

Attending the seminar were former Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Head of the Steering Committee of the Visit Viet Nam Year 2016 - H.E. Mr. Hoang Tuan Anh; Deputy Secretary of Provincial Party Committee of Kien Giang - H.E. Madame Dang Tuyet Em;  Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism - H.E. Madame Dang Thi Bich Lien; Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Kien Giang Province - H.E. Mr. Mai Anh Nhin. The international delegates are: Minister of Tourism of Cambodia - H.E. Mr. Thong Khon; Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos - H.E. Mr. Bosengkham Vongdara; Deputy Minister of Tourism of Indonesia - H.E. Mr. I Gde Pitana; Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Viet Nam - H.E. Mr. Vnukov Konstantin Vasilievich; Director of the Marketing Authority of Philippines Department of Tourism in Viet Nam, Indonesia and Thailand - Madame Maria Corazon Jorda Apo; Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam - H.E. Mr. Ibnu Hadi.

At the seminar, the participants have jointly analyzed and evaluated the cooperation results in recent years, while making judgments on the new trends in tourism development as well as making recommendations on the direction of cooperation in the upcoming time.

Regarding multilateral cooperation, delegates agreed to strengthen mutual support and cooperation in multilateral mechanisms such as The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), ASEAN-Russia… coordinating to develop plans, programs, and activities about promoting tourism in the key markets and the major events in the world; increasing the exchange of information, experience on tourism management, sustainable tourism development; coordinating to construct tourism products in order to attract tourists from third countries; strengthening connection between nations in forms of aviation, road and sea; offering the best services for tourists.

Regarding bilateral cooperation between Viet Nam and other countries: For Cambodia and Laos, enhancing the implementation of the Tourism Cooperation Plan between Viet Nam and Cambodia, the cultural, art and tourism cooperation plan of Viet Nam and Laos in the period of 2016-2020, targeting at the connectivity of on-road tourism products and mutual support in regional and international integration.

For Thailand, delegates agreed to discuss the draft tourism cooperation plan between Viet Nam-Thailand on the occasion of the 40^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, focusing on product link and promotion to the key markets.

For The Philippines, delegates agreed to enhance the airline connectivity to promote and exchange experience on marine tourism and cultural tourism.

For Indonesia, delegates agreed to enhance the airline connectivity in order to promote and exchange experience on the development of cruise tourism between two countries.

For Russia, the two countries can continue to promote the best conditions for visas, direct airline connectivity between two countries and develop the payment mechanisms for transactions between businesses, supporting Viet Nam in particular and the ASEAN countries in general to attend the international tourism fairs in Russia, strengthening activities to promote and introduce Viet Nam tourism in Russia.

Speaking at the seminar, former Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Head of the Steering Committee of Visit Viet Nam Year 2016 - H.E. Mr. Hoang Tuan Anh pointed, in 2015, Viet Nam tourism industry has achieved great results, to prevent the decline of international tourists in the first 6 months, welcome 8 million international tourists arrivals approximately, an increase of 1% compared to 2014, that enhance a strong development in 2016. In the first quarter of 2016, the total number of international tourists to Vietnam reached nearly 2,5 million, increasing 20% over the same period in 2015 with high growth rates increased 38%, increase 19% from Europe, and 22% from North America. The growth of international tourists from markets in the region also reached a high level, including from Thailand increased by 32%, from the Philippines increased by 18%, from Indonesia increased 11%; Russian market in the first quarter of 2016 with strong growth at 14% compared to the first quarter of 2015.

To achieve that result, Vietnamese Government has issued many policies in recent years to offer the best conditions for tourism development, especially the policies of exempting from entry visas, policy supporting, promoting the development of tourism and strengthening management policies of tourist destination. Many high quality resorts in the Central, Phu Quoc, Ha Long… are operated to create the basis for high-spending and long-stay tourists. The activities under the framework of the Visit Viet Nam Year 2015 – Thanh Hoa has made a breakthrough, strengthening tourism development in the region. By 2015, the brand of Vietnam Tourism was awarded valuable titles. Especially, the Telegraph Magazine of The United Kingdom voted Viet Nam as one of the twenty destinations most worth traveling in the world in 2015. The Global Grasshopper Magazine voted Ha Long Bay and Son Doong Cave in the list of 10 most attractive places on the planet; the Inter Continental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort continues to receive the most luxurious resort in the world award of the World Travel Awards 2015.

former Minister Hoang Tuan Anh confirmed: the achievements are the result of efforts of Vietnam, the cooperation and support from nations in the region and in the world such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and traditional friendly countries such as Russia Federation and other countries.

With the neighboring countries, through the cooperation schemes of Greater Mekong Sub-region cooperation (GMS), ACMECS… and the bilateral cooperation agreement, 05 countries in the region has improved the quality of tourism products and promoting activities. The common image of 05 countries is created.

With other ASEAN countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines, the relationship among countries has become closer after the official establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community on December 31^st 2015. Many cooperation agreements among countries have been made over the years, typically the Mutual Recognition Agreement on ASEAN tourism professionals (MRA), visa-free entry for citizens with ordinary passport, the common standards for tourism services and linked products. Along with the bilateral cooperation activities, the cooperation with ASEAN countries plays an important role for the development of Vietnam tourism in recent years.

With traditional friends, Viet Nam always respect and appreciate the cooperation, valuable assistance of the Russia Federation and other countries in recent times. The results of that cooperation was clearly illustrated by the number of Russian tourists to Viet Nam with nearly 340.000 visits in 2015, an average growth of 33% per year in the period of 2010-2015.

In the evening of April 10^th 2016, the Ministers/Heads of delegations from foreign tourism ministerial delegations attend the Opening Ceremony of the Visit Viet Nam Year 2016 –Phu Quoc – Mekong Delta with the theme “Explore the Southern Land”. The event took place at the old Phu Quoc airport, Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc district (Kien Giang).

Source: Electronic Portal of the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism.