Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – On November 18th, the Vietnam National Tourism Administration under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Swiss Federal Office for Economic Affairs (SECO), through the “Switzerland for Sustainable Tourism Development in Vietnam Project” (ST4SD), jointly organized the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Sustainable Tourism Development International Conference in Ninh Binh Province.
The conference attracted 100 delegates from GMS member countries, as well as national tourism management agencies, associations, sustainable tourism enterprises, and partners such as the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the Asian Ecotourism Network.
At the opening ceremony, Ha Van Chieu, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, stated that Vietnam is a prominent and highly competitive destination in the region. In the first 10 months of 2025, Vietnam received 17.2 million international tourists, a 22% increase compared to 2024. He emphasized that sustainable tourism has become an important development direction for the global tourism industry, not only related to environmental and cultural protection, but also the only way to maintain long-term competitiveness.
The adoption of the “Greater Mekong Subregion Tourism Development Strategy 2030” is an important milestone, opening up new directions for the region's tourism industry. Vietnam is implementing its 2023-2025 Green Tourism Development Plan, focusing on building sustainable tourism destinations and models, accelerating digital transformation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and ensuring that tourism benefits are equitably distributed to local communities. At the same time, Vietnam reiterated its willingness to deepen cooperation with GMS countries, share data, strengthen research and collaborative action, and jointly achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Etienne Jenni, Director of Trade Promotion at the Swiss Federal Office for Economic Affairs, stated that Switzerland hopes to share its experience in sustainable tourism to support the development of Vietnam's tourism and hospitality industries.
At the meeting, participants discussed two main themes: the understanding and experience of GMS countries in sustainable tourism development, and the GMS's vision and actions in promoting sustainable tourism. Participants shared efficient tourism development models, applicable international standards, resource mobilization methods, and measures to strengthen international cooperation; they also jointly formulated a vision and goals for 2030, emphasizing the coordinating role of the Mekong River Tourism Coordination Office and the active participation of all parties in the implementation of regional joint strategies. (End)
