(TITC) – In the framework of the 13th International Travel Expo – Ho Chi Minh City 2017 (ITE – HCMC 2017), the 3rd Meeting of ACMECS Tourism Ministers, presided by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien, took place on 7 September in Ho Chi Minh City.
In attendance were Tourism Ministers, Leaders of 5 member countries of Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) – including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam; Mayors of the Lower Mekong cities; tourism officials of the 5 countries, representatives of international organizations.
In his speech, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien informed that since the first ACMECS Tourism Ministerial Meeting held in 2013 in Viet Nam, 5 member countries have strengthened tourism cooperation and achieved significant results in terms of: improving destination image and linking regional destinations, promoting the brand of “Five countries – One destination”, implementing ACMECS action plans for 2013-2015 and 2016-2018, organizing joint promotional activities, product development…
In 2016, ACMECS countries welcomed 54.75 million international tourist arrivals, up 5.29% over 2015; the number of intra-regional tourists reached 8.95 million arrivals (+5.04%), accounting for 16.35% of the total number of international arrivals.
Minister Nguyen Ngoc Thien emphasized that the meeting aimed at discussing solutions to foster the cooperation within ACMECS and enhance coordination with other regional mechanisms such as ASEAN, Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS)…
At the meeting, tourism ministers and leaders of the 5 countries reviewed the outcomes of the 7th ACMECS Summit held in Ha Noi (Viet Nam) on 26 October 2016, the 2nd ACMECS Tourism Ministerial Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar) on 29 July 2015, and ACMECS tourism cooperation in the period 2015-2017. The delegates also discussed solutions to further boost tourism cooperation among ACMECS countries in the coming time, focusing on tourism promotion, product linkage and development, attracting the positive involvement of private sector and local communities, facilitating convenient travel and developing tourism human resources…
Tourism Ministers, Leaders of ACMECS countries approved the joint statement of 3rd Meeting of ACMECS Tourism Ministers.
Hong Nhung