This conference was attended by 75 delegations from 7 countries, including Thua Thien Hue province and Phu Tho province of Vietnam.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Phuong (far right) co-chaired the High-Level session on regional tourism development after the pandemic. Photo: Provincial People's Committee

Promoting international cooperation

Held for the first time in Nara province, Japan in 2010, the Conference is a forum for local and regional governments to discuss common issues that the community is facing.

Through open discussion, related parties propose policies and solutions to address challenging issues that the localities are facing.

Since then, the Conference has been held annually in Nara province, and Thua Thien Hue has sent delegations to attend at the invitation of the Conference Organizing Committee in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2017.

This year, with the goal of exchanging ideas and solutions to regional and global economic problems, as well as seeking opportunities for investment and trade cooperation, the Conference consists of 2 discussion sessions on the topic “Promoting local industries during and after the COVID-19 pandemic” and “Promoting regional tourism during and after the COVID-19 pandemic”.

At the meeting to connect local leaders, Chairman Nguyen Van Phuong introduced the potential and strengths of the geographical location, natural conditions, cultural potential, heritage, and tourism of Thua Thien Hue.

Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong informed about the efforts of local authorities in providing solutions and policies to support businesses and people, diversify tourism products, and enhance digital transformation in socio-economic areas, practical experience to restore tourism, contributing to the recovery of local socio-economic in the new normal period.

West Java Governor - Mr. Mochamad Ridwan Kamil (left) presenting souvenirs to the delegation of Thua Thien Hue province. Photo: Provided by the Provincial People's Committee

Through the meeting, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Phuong suggested that there should be active cooperation from international partners, and at the same time wished that the governments and local governments of countries in East Asia in general and Indonesia in particular, creating conditions for Vietnamese airlines to research and promote opening new routes to Phu Bai International Airport from 2023 and the following years.

Mr. Phuong also suggested promoting cooperation programs to promote tourism and destinations of Thua Thien Hue province on websites, social networks, and media of localities and vice versa; encourage and create conditions for foreign businesses to come to Thua Thien Hue to research and invest, especially in tourism projects in the province and bring tourists to the locality, towards mutual prosperity.

Promoting cooperation in the field of culture and tourism

Within the framework of the conference, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Phuong also had meetings, worked, and connected with local leaders in the region.

Talking to Mr. Mochamad Ridwan Kamil - Governor of West Java province, Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong shared with the government and people of West Java province about the loss and damage caused by the earthquake that happened earlier this week.

The delegation of Thua Thien Hue posing for photos at the Thua Thien Hue tourism promotion booth. Photo: Provincial People's Committee

The two sides also agreed to study and promote cooperation in such fields as cultural exchanges, people-to-people exchanges, and high-level visits to have the opportunity to learn and share cooperation orientations in many areas of interest to both parties; promote tourism and destinations of Thua Thien Hue on websites and media of West Java and vice versa. At the same time, consider sending a high-quality art troupe to attend future festivals, especially the Oriental Night Program at Festival 2024 to promote Indonesia's rich culture and identity to the public.

Welcoming and working with the leaders of Nara province (Japan), the two sides expressed their determination to further promote cooperation in culture, tourism, and heritage conservation, creating favorable conditions for Thua Thien Hue's trainees working in Nara in particular and in Japan in general.

Also at the conference, the Thua Thien Hue delegation participated in a booth to introduce tourism destinations and products of Thua Thien Hue; presented an introduction about some products and development orientation of healthcare tourism in Thua Thien Hue; connect with a number of localities and business groups interested in tourism promotion cooperation to Thua Thien Hue and vice versa.

By LE THO