Overview of the 53rd GMS Tourism Working Group Meeting (Photo: Organising Board)

Head of the Vietnamese Delegation speaking at the Meeting (Photo: Organising Board)

At the Meeting, GMS countries have updated each country's tourism situation. Accordingly, the Meeting recorded the results of tourism growth of countries in the Sub-region through tourism statistical results (international visitors, domestic visitors, total tourist receipts), update visa policy to facilitate tourism, target markets, initiatives on smart tourism, digital tourism, promotion, event planning, and cooperative activities in 2024.

The Vietnamese delegation updating the Vietnam tourism situation at the meeting (Photo: VNAT)

According to the report of the Vietnamese delegation at the meeting, Vietnam tourism has had strong growth. In 2023, international visitors to Vietnam reached 12.6 million arrivals, serving 108.2 million domestic trips. In the first quarter of 2024, Vietnam welcomed 4.64 million international visitor arrivals, and the number of domestic visitors reached 30 million. This year, Vietnam set the goal to welcome about 18 million international visitor arrivals and serve about 110 million domestic visitor trips.

The top tourist source markets for Vietnam tourism are Korea, China, Taiwan (China), the United States, Japan, Thailand…

Remarkably, from 15th August 2023, the Government has issued Resolutions approving the official implementation of a number of new policies on visas and immigration, further facilitating international visitors to Vietnam. Specifically, grant electronic visas for citizens from all countries and territories all around the world with single or multiple entries and extend the length of stay to 90 days. For those enjoying visa exemption, the length of stay is also extended to 45 days.

Head of delegation of GMS countries taking souvenir photo (Photo: Organising Board)

Vietnam has also shared a number of media channels and social networks of Vietnam tourism to serve international visitors such as the website promoting Vietnam tourism internationally vietnam.travel; Facebook page of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism. All confirm that Vietnam tourism is always ready to welcome international tourists and friends to explore the beautiful and attractive land.

Also at the Meeting, the Director of MTCO presented a report on MTCO's activities in recent times, focusing on the results of digital initiatives, implementing the GMS tourism cooperation activities planned in 2024-2025, MTCO 2024 work plan, joint projects…

The Vietnamese delegation comments to the second draft of the GMS Tourism Strategy 2030 developed by ADB Consulting experts (Photo: VNAT)

Representative of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) updated the     ADB finance and knowledge support program for GMS tourism 2024-2026; 2024 GMS Summit Preparations and Indicative Deliverables; and Other ADB GMS Secretariat Initiatives. Representatives of the Vietnamese delegation also commented on the second draft of the GMS Tourism Strategy 2030 developed by ADB Consulting experts.

The Meeting discussed sub-regional tourism projects in the near future. Thailand’s Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) to present the update of the collaboration project on the development of tourism destination certification program (Green Destinations Standards) in the context of GMS and propose the next step. The project is implemented from the Lancang - Mekong Cooperation Fund funded by China, in the period 2023-2025. Content of activities on developing certification criteria, building certification capacity and piloting certification. The project aims to develop tourism certification standards for the GMS. MTCO and DASTA signed an MOU to cooperate in implementing this project with other partner organisations on green destination certification such as AEN and Green Destination. MTCO to present Mekong Institute (MI)’s project on “Promoting Creative Industry for Heritage Tourism Development in the Mekong Region” (Creative4Mekong), and to propose areas for MI - MTCO collaboration, approved by the Mekong Foundation - Korea. Project implementation time is 3 years (March 2024 - February 2026). Project implementation locations in 6 CLMTV countries and Korea (in Vietnam, the project chose Hue). The project has 5 main activities and results, including situational research, capacity building workshops, building an online platform to promote project results, developing training materials, policy recommendations, and workshops. Project participants and beneficiaries are agencies managing heritage, tourism, culture, commerce, standards and certification at central and local levels; MSMEs and artisans. Countries gave their opinions on the contents of cooperation between MTCO and MI in implementing this project. In addition, MTCO coordinated with the ASEAN-Japan Center to implement a project to strengthen digital skills for women in the tourism community in CLMV countries.

Delegates taking souvenir photo (Photo: Organising Board)

To jointly promote sub-regional tourism, after discussion, the Meeting agreed to choose China as the market for joint promotion. The Meeting assigned MTCO to cooperate with CNT National Travel Magazine to promote sub-regional tourism in China. Expected implementation time is May and June 2024.

The 54th GMS TWG meeting and MTCO Board Meeting will take place in Thailand in November 2024.

The Vietnamese delegation attending the Meeting (Photo: VNAT)

Photo exhibition with the theme "Achievements of GMS tourism cooperation" on the sidelines of Meetings and Forums (Photo: Organising Board)

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