Delegates of APEC member economies tour ancient Hoi An city of Quang Nam provine (Source: VNA)
A wide range of tourism programmes have been developed to serve tourists during the Week such as tours connecting local renowned destinations, including Ngu Hanh Son Mountain, Museum of Cham Sculpture, Son Tra peninsula, the ancient Hoi An city and Hue citadel, Than Tai Mountain, and night boat tours on the Han River.
Besides, the municipal Department of Tourism prepared about 13,000 rooms at seaside resorts and hotels to serve the Week, while providing staff and chefs of hotels and restaurants with professional training.
Head of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration Nguyen Van Tuan said the APEC event is a “golden chance” to promote Vietnam as an open and friendly country.
A research of Assoc. Prof., Dr Pham Trung Luong from the Vietnam Environment and Sustainable Development Institute showed that APEC economies have become attractive and friendly destinations for tourists in recent years. In 2015, the region served 396 million visitors, or 33 percent of total holiday makers of the world, generating revenue exceeding USD598 billion and accounting for 44.5 percent of the world’s tourism revenue.
The World Tourism Organisation of the United Nations forecast that the Asia-Pacific region will receive 27 percent of the world’s tourists by 2020.
The APEC Economic Leaders’ Week is expected to bring together heads of state and some 10,000 delegates from 21 APEC economies.
Established in 1989, APEC comprises 21 economies, namely Australia; Brunei; Canada; Chile; China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; the Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; the Philippines; Russia; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; the United States; and Vietnam.
Vietnam joined APEC in 1998, and hosted APEC in 2006./.