UNWTO to Support Vietnam to Boost Tourism: Taleb Rifai
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will help Vietnam outline policies on sustainable development of tourism and introduce the Southeast Asian nation’s potentials outbound, Secretary General Taleb Rifai said in Hanoi.
The UNWTO will hold conferences and short-term training courses to share experiences with domestic tourism officials.
The UNWTO Secretary General is in Vietnam for the 22nd session of the Pacific and South Asia Commission and the Commission of East Asia and Pacific, slated May 10-12.
The guest assured Vietnam has adequate criteria and huge potential to develop the tourism such as stable politics, hospitality, a range of various landscapes and relics.
For a long-term the industry’s growth, Taleb Rifai noted the country should eye to manpower training, balance between development investment and market expansion and exchange of information and experiences between countries.
Nhan told the guest tourism is among the country’s major economic sectors, contributing to create jobs, eliminate poverty and connect Vietnam with the world.
Up to 300 tourism officials from 17 Asian-Pacific nations and territories gathered at the 22nd meeting, hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for the first time.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) cooperated with authorities of Hanoi capital city to introduce the 1,000th Thang Long-Hanoi Great Festival to the participants.
Vietnam’s tourism sector presented an annual growth of 20% over the past ten years. The industry contributed 6.3% of the country’s total GDP in 2008.
The tourism sector is among Vietnam’s two largest forex earners, with more than $4 billion last year. (www.chinhphu.vn)
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