VietNamNet Bridge – Five Southeast Asian countries have agreed to set up a tourism corridor that will cover Bagan, Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Siem Reap, Da Nang and Hue to tap potentials of these destinations to serve national wealth.

This is part of a Joint Declaration issued at the Meeting of ACMECS Tourism Ministers in Ho Chi Minh City on September 11.

The Tourism Ministers from the five ASEAN countries--Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam in the economic cooperation framework the "Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy" or "ACMECS" were satisfied with the performance of the ACMECS tourism in 2012 which was demonstrated by the arrival of over 37 million international visitors, including 6 million intra-regional guests.  

They acknowledged the achievements in tourism promotion and marketing, travel facilitation, human resources development, travel safety and security, and cooperation especially Thailand and Cambodia piloting a common visa scheme for ACMECS travelers from 2013.  

The Tourism Ministers also called upon the rest countries in the area to early join the scheme to encourage more tourists traveling around the internal region.  

They also agreed to reach a double-digit growth rate of international visitors annually by 2015.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh said he believed that the agenda and reached agreements highlighted commitments and determination of the ACMECS countries to capitalize on tourism potentials.

Source: VGP