Themed “Smart tourism”, the event will be held for the first time in Viet Nam, and  expected to draw the attendance of about 300 delegates from 25 cities of six TPO member countries.

Representatives from 25 member cities will give presentations about their smart tourism promotions and services. It will focus on measures to improve tourism development capacity of OTP member cities. 

The forum will include two sessions on “Smart Tourism” and “Case Study Presentation by member cities on Smart Tourism”, with the participations of international speakers and experts operating the tourism field. 

Other programmes will be the 31th Meeting of the TPO Executive Committee, the TPO Travel Trade exchange and a smart tourism exhibition; the TPO Bilateral Meeting, and the TPO Best Award. 

In the TPO Bilateral Meeting, representatives from Busan city of the Republic of Korea with the role as the Chairmanship of TPO and ten member cities in the organisation’s Executive Committee, including HCM City, will discuss orientations for the operation of TPO in the coming times, and ways to enhance cooperation in developing tourism among TPO members. 

Deputy director of HCM City’s Department of Tourism Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa said the event is a great opportunity for the city’s tourism sector to develop new ideas and strategies for smart tourism. 

As the host city of the TPO forum, HCM City will also have a chance to promote the country’s tourism industry as well as strengthen cooperation with other member cities of TPO.

The Tourism Promotion Organisation for Asia Pacific Cities, with 85 member cities and 45 industry members from 10 countries and territories, is an international organisation established in 2002 to promote the exchange and development of the tourism industry in major cities in the Asia Pacific region.