The Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) made its debut in Hanoi on November 27.

The TAB’s establishment is part of an EU-funded project aiming to enhance the tourism sector’s capacity for environmentally and socially responsible development.

According to Nguyen Van Tuan, General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the inauguration of the board, which has the participation of both the public and private sectors, is expected to create an important breakthrough in the professionalisation of Vietnam’s tourism sector, in line with the national tourism development strategy until 2020, with a vision to 2030.

Moreover, it will enhance Vietnam’s competitiveness and make the country an attractive global destination, he added.

Meanwhile, Bryan Fornari, Deputy Head of Cooperation Development Section, Governance and Economic Cooperation of the EU delegation, expressed his belief that in enabling active dialogue, the board will effectively increase Vietnam’s competitive advantage as a travel and tourism destination and achieve much needed improvements in the responsibility that both public and private sectors take towards this vital sector.

The board consists of 20 experts selected for the scope of their influence on the industry, who have the mission to leverage the country’s public and private resources, thus creating a cohesive and comprehensive industry strategy.

The EU-funded tourism project, with a budget of 12.1 million EUR, to which Vietnam contributes 1.1 billion EUR, is implemented between 2011-2015.-VNA