APEC officials meet in Ha Long city on June 19, 2017 to debate sustainable tourism. (Photo: baoquangninh.com.vn)

In his opening address, Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien said: “The United Nations General Assembly declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. This dialogue enables APEC countries to review the tourism industry, and look for specific measures on tourism cooperation towards 17 UN sustainable development goals. Tourism will be one of key factors for developing a dynamic, sustainable, united, and inclusive Asia-Pacific region”.

Alan Bollard, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, applauded Vietnam for initiating the dialogue, saying that it proves Vietnam’s increasing role in regional policy planning. He added that sustainable tourism development is significantly attributed by small and medium-sized enterprises.