(TITC) - On 28th October 2023, on the sideline of the ASEAN - Japan Tourism Ministers’ Special Dialogue took place in Tokyo (Japan), Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Vice Chairman of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) had a meeting with Mr. Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
At the meeting, VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu noted the supports of PATA for Vietnam's tourism industry recently in providing information and research data on world and regional tourism for Vietnam; Support capacity building for Vietnamese tourism officials; Organise training courses and foster tourism skills, focusing on sustainable destination management, digital transformation, market research, tourism statistics and product development; Coordinate and create conditions for Vietnamese businesses to participate in PATA activities.
VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu proposed PATA to continue to implement tourism projects and organise a number of PATA events in Vietnam in the near future; support Vietnam tourism in inviting prestigious international experts and speakers to attend conferences, seminars, and field trips in Vietnam; support promoting Vietnam tourism on PATA platforms.
Additionally, VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu also proposed establishing a PATA Training Center in Vietnam to invest in improving human capacity in Vietnam's tourism industry according to PATA standards.
Expressing his gratitude towards the rapid recovery of Vietnam's tourism industry post the Covid-19 pandemic compared to a number of countries in the region, Mr. Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) highly appreciated the initiative of VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu and indicated that PATA will consider the possibility of opening PATA Training Centers in some provinces and cities in Vietnam in 2024 - 2025.
In recent times, Vietnam has regularly participated in promotional activities, conferences and seminars organised by PATA Central. PATA Association regularly supports experts to present at conferences, seminars and forums organised by Vietnam.
In 2021-2023, PATA implemented the project "Tourism Destination Resilience", organising 03 training workshops: Workshop in Ha Noi in December 2022 and July 2023, in Hoi An in April 2022. Currently, PATA is discussing with the VNAT about considering organising the PATA Travel Mart 2025 in Vietnam.
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