The tourism ministers of Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam issued the Ministerial Declaration on Trilateral Tourism Co-operation after their first meeting to set up the "Three Countries - One Destination" plan yesterday.

The ministerial declaration aims to ensure the sustainability of tourism development and to alleviate poverty in the three countries.

The declaration was signed by the Minister of Tourism of Cambodia Thong Khon, the Chairman of Laos National Tourism Administration Somphong Mongkhonvilay and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Viet Nam Hoang Tuan Anh.

The three ministers agreed to encourage their national tourism authorities to step up the sharing of information and experience in tourism planning and products development, tourism investment promotion, hosting of tourism investment fora in each country and organising of tours linked with art performances and heritage sites.

They agreed to consider international tourism events related to cultural and sport activities held in the three countries, and to explore possibilities for more efficient tourist transportation, tour packaging, joint organisation of caravan tours and direct air links among cultural heritage sites.

The ministers agreed to enhance co-operation in training and human resources development by sharing information on occupational tourism skills standards and tourism curricula and to bolster youth exchanges as well as partnerships between sister cities and cultural sites.

They also agreed to encourage public-private partnerships in the three countries in tourism development, especially in infrastructure investment and improvement of quality tourism products and services.

The ministers acknowledged the support of international organisations and governments including Asia Development Bank, the UN’s Economic and Social Committee for Asia Pacific, Pacific Asia Travel Association, World Tourism Organisation and the Japanese Government, and called on these entities to continue to provide technical assistance for sustainable tourism development in the region.

Viet Nam’s minister for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Hoang Tuan Anh, said the three countries are expected to become a common tourist destination with unique, attractive products and services that can compete with other countries in the region. — VNS