HCM City (VNA) – A conference washeld in Ho Chi Minh City on January 19 to discuss how to develop responsibletourism as part of efforts to achieve economic growth, preserve culture andprotect nature.

Director of the municipal Department of TourismBui Ta Hoang Vu said tourism growth has posed a challenge to management,planning, the environment, tourism resources and culture.

Peter Semone, Executive of Destination HumanCapital, and President of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) underlinedthe trend of responsible tourism in the world.

He suggested the city’s tourism sector focus on promotingthe quality value of tourism and raising the public awareness of responsibletourism development while designing a smart city in line with modern tourismdevelopment.

HCM City aims to become a worth-living city,which will make it an attractive destination for international tourists, Petersaid, adding that the city needs to preserve its historical values whileupholding its cultural identity to lure tourists.

Addressing the conference, Tran Vinh Tuyen, ViceChairman of the municipal People’s Committee said a continuous growth has beenseen in tourism revenues, but yet met the city’s expectations. Responsibletourism lays the foundation for the sustainable development of the sector until2020 and a vision through 2030.

The event aims to bring all stakeholders togetherfor the sustainability of the environment, socio-economic and community intourism development.

The local tourism sector has recorded an averageannual growth of 8-10 percent. It expects to lure six million internationaltourists and build “an attractive, friendly and safe” tourism city in 2017.-VNA