The Tourism Policy of Future Development in Asia – Pacific Region conference started in Ho Chi Minh City on July 2, drawing over 160 delegates from 17 regional countries.

The 20th function, held by the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Asia – Pacific Tourism Association, aims to share experience and knowledge to drive the growth and the quality of regional tourism.

It is also said to be an opportunity to popularise HCM City’s images and help foreign travel agencies and local ones form long-term partnership.

Addressing the conference, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hong said HCM City considers tourism as one of its spearheads.

Over the past years, it has issued a number of policies and taken measures to step up promotion drives, improve the quality of its manpower, and strengthen its cooperation with both domestic and foreign partners in the field, she noted.

The city has also been working hard to diversify tourism products and create a safe and friendly environment to attract more holiday makers from around the globe, Hong added.

At the event, participants were introduced to a development strategy for five resort cities in the Greater Mekong Sub-region and outstanding destinations in HCM City.

From now until July 4, the conference will have discussions on relating issues such as development orientations of the tourism and hotel sector, the management of destinations and human resources, heritage and health tourism, and communication technology in the field.-VNA