Tourism Collaboration Discussion
Officials from Vietnam and Thailand are focusing on initiatives to enhance tourism cooperation under the “Six Countries, One Destination” project.
A session between the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs took place on January 3 at the Thai office in Hanoi, aimed at fostering collaboration in tourism.
This collaborative proposal is anticipated to ease visa processes and enhance travel experiences across Southeast Asia.
Leadership in Discussions
The discussions were spearheaded by Ho An Phong, the Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and Dusit Manapan, from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Their focus was on boosting tourism partnerships among six ASEAN nations: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In addition, the plan aims to uplift regional tourism and economic cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand.
Key Proposals for Easier Travel
Manapan highlighted the initiative’s intent to streamline travel by simplifying immigration protocols and potentially instituting a shared visa model similar to the EU’s Schengen Visa, allowing seamless travel for tourists across ASEAN countries.
This plan includes establishing fast-track immigration channels, strengthening business partnerships, and coordinated promotional efforts to market the countries as a single destination.
Moreover, this type of collaboration is projected to significantly increase tourist flow within ASEAN and attract international travelers from regions including the United States, Europe, and South Asia.
Importance of Joint Marketing and Training
Phong supported the initiative, noting its alignment with ASEAN’s objectives for cultural and tourism cooperation. He emphasized the necessity for cooperative marketing of new tourism offerings that reflect the distinct strengths of Thailand and Vietnam. There were suggestions for collaborative participation in tourism exhibitions and trade fairs in each country, aimed at fostering tourist exchanges and investment opportunities.
The discussion also called for enhancing tourism education, with Vietnam seeking Thailand’s expertise in training tourism and hospitality workforce, including scholarship provisions and workshops.
Quotes
“Support of the initiative must align with ASEAN’s goal to enhance cooperation in tourism and culture.” - Ho An Phong
