Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong said at  the forum "The First ASEAN-Korea Tourism Roundtable" opened  on July 2.

The 1st ASEAN-Korea Tourism Roundtable opened  at DTU (Da Nang). The event brought together policymakers, tourism businesses, experts and representatives of international organizations from both regions, marking an important milestone in tourism cooperation between ASEAN and Korea.

Speaking at the forum, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong said that in 2023, ASEAN will welcome nearly 127 million international visitors, including about 10 million visitors from South Korea. Vietnam is the top destination for Korean tourists, with 4.6 million arrivals.

"The organization of the forum in Da Nang not only shows the commitment to close cooperation between countries in the region but also shows the trust and expectations in the role of the central coastal city of Vietnam as an increasingly international conference center," said the Deputy Minister.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong

According to the Deputy Minister, in the context that the global tourism industry is entering a post-pandemic recovery period, ASEAN and the Republic of Korea are expected to jointly promote sustainable growth, through visa policy reforms, creating favorable conditions for inter-regional tourism, etc  improve service quality and train human resources.

Therefore, the forum is a place to share information, opening up a comprehensive dialogue space on key topics: visa policy, air connectivity, ensuring tourist security, to developing young human resources, etc.

Sharing the same view, former ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh said that the contributions of the delegates will create a solid foundation for deeper cooperation between ASEAN and the Republic of Korea, on the basis of promoting mutual strengths, innovation from Korea and diversification of destinations.  cultural depth from ASEAN.

Vice Chairman of Da Nang City People's Committee Tran Anh Tuan, shared, according to the planning orientation, the new Da Nang will become the center of start-ups, innovation, finance, trade, logistics, high-tech industry and IT industry of the country. The city will also be one of the largest centers for culture, education, high-quality healthcare, sports and science and technology in the region.

Domestic and international delegates attending the forum

"Particularly for the tourism industry, Da Nang aims to become a national and Southeast Asian high-quality tourism and service center by 2030. By 2045, Da Nang strives to become a leading destination in Asia" - Mr. Tuan said and said: The city government is committed to creating the most favorable environment for the development of key economic sectors.  especially tourism. The locality will coordinate with stakeholders to ensure the safety of visitors, simplify entry and exit procedures, expand air connectivity and promote the application of technology, creating a seamless and convenient travel experience.

DTU President Le Nguyen Bao acknowledged that the younger generation in the regional sustainable tourism development strategy is a core role. The right investment in training, business-academia linkages, and expanding international exchange opportunities will help form a workforce that is not only professionally good, but also imbued with the values of identity and global service.