19th ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting

On 21 January 2016, the delegation of Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism led by Deputy Minister Dang Thi Bich Lien participated in the 19th ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting in the framework of ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2016 in Philippines.
The 19th ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting focused on considering and approving the report of meeting of ASEAN national tourism organizations, development progress of ASEAN tourism from 18th ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting, agendas of 15th ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan, South Korea) Tourism Ministers Meeting and 6th Meeting of the ASEAN - India Tourism Ministers, consultations with international organizations (including UNWTO, ASEAN - China Centre, ASEAN - Japan Centre, ASEAN – South Korea Centre, World Travel and Tourism Council, Pacific Asia Travel Association…), considering and adopting the Joint Declaration of 19th ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister Dang Thi Bich Lien affirmed that with thoughtful preparation of the host country and cooperative commitments of ASEAN members, ATF 2016 would be successful under the theme “One Community for Sustainability”.
She was pleased to inform that Viet Nam's tourism continued to achieve positive results in 2015. The number of international tourists to Viet Nam in 2015 reached over 7.94 million arrivals, slightly increasing over 2014; domestic trippers achieved 57 million, up 48%; total tourism receipts gained USD 15.2 billion. In recent years, Viet Nam has implemented a series of programs to foster th involvement of Viet Nam in ASEAN tourism, in accordance with the ASEAN Tourism Strategy for 2016-2025.
In 2015, ASEAN tourism cooperation achieved significant progress in terms of tourism promotion, linkage for product development and standardization of services and human resources.
To uphold the contribution of ASEAN tourism to building efficient and dynamic ASEAN Community, Viet Nam proposed that tourism cooperation in 2016 should focus on boosting the implementation of ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals (MRA - TP), completing ASEAN tourism standards, strengthening tourism linkage among ASEAN countries.
Viet Nam always gives priority to ASEAN tourism cooperation, strives for building an attractive ASEAN destination and a prosperous ASEAN Community.
Hong Nhung.