APEC member economies approve statement on sustainable tourism
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The APEC High level Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Tourism was held on 19 June in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province with the participation of about 150 delegates from APEC member economies, speakers from prestigious international organizations.
The APEC High level Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Tourism is an initiative of Viet Nam in order to realize the APEC Strategy for Strengthening Quality Growth, to implement one of the four priorities of APEC cooperation in 2017 which is to promote sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth, and is also a major contribution of APEC to the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development set by the United Nations.
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| Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam Nguyen Ngoc Thien speaking at the event. |
Delivering opening remarks, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam Nguyen Ngoc Thien said Tourism has always been one of APEC's cooperation priorities since its establishment in 1989. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, in 2016 tourism generated 1.3 trillion USD for APEC members' GDP, directly created 67 million jobs and helped the region's 6.1% export growth.
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| Delegates at the event. |
The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism revealed that APEC's tourism sector is faced with many opportunities, but also challenges. The fourth industrial revolution is forecasted to create major changes for the world as a whole, and for the tourism sector in particular.
“It is imperative that we pursue sustainable tourism development in terms of economy, society - culture, and the environment. Towards that goal we will need to work together to ensure socioeconomic benefits for all including stable jobs and income, reduced poverty, uphold traditional values, increased cultural exchanges and understanding, protection and conservation of biodiversity and environmental resources. “, he said.
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| At the event. |
The Dialogue adopted a document on Sustainable Tourism Development, which includes recommendations and specific directions for sustainable tourism development in the APEC region, encouraging the Tourism Working Group to: focus on economic, financial and social sustainability and inclusion in its future work, as travel and tourism is uniquely able to provide opportunities across APEC economies; leverage connectivity to increase inclusive growth by allowing tourism to reach more geographic areas within economies;
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| Vietnamese delegation at the event. |
APEC member economies also suggested the Tourism Working Group
to consider the establishment of a network of sustainable, inclusive and integrated tourism destinations among APEC member economies; work with other APEC fora and relevant international and regional organizations to share best practices and foster synergies in promoting sustainable tourism growth; and highlight best practices of APEC economies in measurement and monitoring methodologies that are undertaken to enhance sustainable tourism.
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| A representative from Russia at the event. |
The APEC High level Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Tourism is a milestone in APEC Viet Nam 2017, followed by the Technical Workshop on Sustainable Tourism, held during the first APEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM 1) in February 2017 in Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa province).
Organization of the APEC High level Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Tourism will be a meaningful contribution to the formulation of policies for sustainable tourism development. Given that sustainable development is an important item in the agenda of world tourism forums in general and APEC region in particular, the Dialogue is an opportunity for economies to share experiences and to discuss measures to enhance the effectiveness of cooperation and integration in the region, especially in the field of sustainable tourism development.
