On July 2, the ASEAN-Korea Roundtable in Tourism opened with the aim of proposing policies to promote tourism development among the countries.
Attendees pose for a photo at the opening ceremony
The first ASEAN-Korea Roundtable in Tourism (AK-RT) in 2025 is organized by DTU in collaboration with Korean agencies.
The program is part of the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Area (FTA) Economic Cooperation Initiative, providing a platform for dialogue between policymakers, businesses, and experts to propose solutions to improve the tourism environment and promote shared economic benefits.
Attendees of the conference included Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Mr. Ho An Phong; South Korea’s Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Mr. Yong Ho Seong; and Vice Chairman of Da Nang City People's Committee Mr. Tran Anh Tuan, along with delegates from countries in the region.
Mr. Tran Anh Tuan, Vice Chairman of Da Nang City People's Committee, stated that after the merger, Da Nang is now the largest city in Vietnam by area, comprising 94 administrative units, including 70 communes, 23 wards, and the Hoang Sa Special Zone.
In the field of tourism, Da Nang is striving to become a center for high-quality tourism and services and a creative destination for Vietnam and Southeast Asia by 2030.
According to Tran Anh Tuan, the ASEAN-Korea Roundtable in Tourism is an important opportunity for participating countries to engage in multilateral dialogue, promote cooperation, and further expand the development of tourism activities.
The Da Nang City government will provide maximum support to create a favorable environment for the development of key industries, especially tourism, collaborate closely with stakeholders to enhance security and safety for tourists, simplify immigration procedures, expand multimodal transport connections, and apply technology to create seamless and efficient travel experiences for both regional and international visitors.
Mr. Ho An Phong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, delivers the opening speech
Deputy Minister Ho An Phong assessed that tourism cooperation between ASEAN and South Korea has shown significant progress, not only through the continuous recovery and growth in the number of exchanged visitors but also through the improvement of tourism products and services, as well as the expansion of increasingly diverse and effective forms of cooperation.
In 2024, ASEAN countries welcomed nearly 127 million international visitors, with South Korea among the top three source markets, contributing about 10 million arrivals. Notably, Vietnam was the leading destination in the region for South Korean tourists, attracting 4.6 million visitors. This serves as clear evidence of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and South Korea and shows the deepening trust, affection, and close bonds between the people of both nations.
Mr Phong highly praised the ASEAN - Korea Roundtable in Tourism. Beyond simply sharing information and professional experience, the forum provided a space for deep and comprehensive dialogue on key issues that will shape the future of the ASEAN - Korea tourism industry.
The ASEAN-Korea Roundtable in Tourism took place from July 2 to 4, bringing together policymakers from the tourism ministries and agencies of ASEAN countries and South Korea, as well as business leaders and top experts in the tourism field.
The conference included discussion sessions focusing on four key strategic priorities: enhancing security and facilitating tourism activities, improving systems to enhance the visitor experience, training and developing human resources in the tourism sector, and promoting mutual understanding and respect for cultural diversity between ASEAN countries and South Korea.
(Media Center)