Five ACMECS member nations pledge to develop responsible tourism

Five ACMECS member nations pledge to develop responsible tourism

The Hanoitimes – Tourism ministers from ACMECS member nations adopted an statement on responsible tourism, which reiterates the ACMECS tourism industry’s commitment to responsible, sustainable, inclusive and balance tourism development.

An ACMECS (Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy) forum on responsible tourism was held in HCM City on September 8 in the framework of the 2016 International Travel Expo HCM City.
The forum was attended by tourism ministers from ACMECS member nations, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, representatives from the tourism industry, international and social organisations and experts in charting out directions to develop environmentally-friendly tourism.

At the forum.

Speaking at the forum, Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien highlighted the growth of the tourism industry in ACMECS countries.
In 2015, ACMECS member nations welcomed 52 million foreign visitors and 8.8 million intra-bloc travelers, increasing by 7 and 8 percent, respectively.
Minister Thien stressed that ACMECS countries have realised that sustainable tourism is the inevitable trend which will create a basic foundation to reach the goal of “Five countries-One destination.”
The question now is to develop suitable mechanisms and policies towards this direction, he added.
Delegates shared that without strict and suitable management, tourism activities will put negative impacts on the natural environment.
Responsible tourism should be based on community’s interests and brings benefit to all involved persons, according to experts.

Photo for illustration

Walter Jamieson, a senior expert at the World Tourism Organisation and the International Centre for Responsible Tourism-ASEAN, suggested that along with statistics on the number of visitors, data should be compiled on poor households benefiting from tourism and the protection of local forests, the treatment of waste and use of science-technology to serve tourism, which all contribute to responsible tourism.
During the forum, tourism ministers from ACMECS member nations adopted an statement on responsible tourism, which reiterates the ACMECS tourism industry’s commitment to responsible, sustainable, inclusive and balance tourism development.
Under the statement, the countries will intensify the sharing of information and experience in the field, and promote private-public cooperation with the joining of international and non-governmental organisations.

Thu Minh

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