First International Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in Vietnam: 22nd to 23rd May 1997, Hue, Vietnam

15th April 1997

Vietnam is a fast evolving economy with much potential for development. The country is blessed with world-class resources which are suitable for tourism development. To facilitate national tourism development and management in the context of environment development, this conference seeks to define current and future challenges and opportunities in tourism. Appropriate national and regional tourism development and management objectives and strategies will be explored, as will projects suitable for investment.

The venue for the conference is the City of Hue located in central Vietnam. Considered the ancient cultural heartland of Vietnam, the Royal City of Hue is rich in heritage sites. Hue has been listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site. The City is famous for its history, universities, fine food, traditional music, royal dance and fine art.

The conference will be officiated by the Chairperson of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and the Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien-Hue Province.

Conference Theme

Planning, development and management of environmental and cultural resources for sustainable tourism.

Conference Venue

Century Riverside Hotel Conference Hall

Conference Committee

• Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Vietnam
• Hanns Seidel Foundation, Singapore
• Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Programme

The conference sessions will be in English with simultaneous translation into Vietnamese

Day 1, 22 May 1997 : Plenary Session 1

• Welcome Address by Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua
• Thien-Hue, Province
• Keynote Address by Chairperson of VNAT
• Welcome Address by Regional Director, HSF
• Country Presentations:
  • "Vietnam Tourism Master Plan with Environment and Resource Management Strategy" by VNAT
  • "Tourism Master Plan of Singapore" by Singapore Tourist Promotion Board
  • "Tourism Master Plan of Thailand" by Tourism Authority of Thailand
  • "Tourism Master Plan of Malaysia" by Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board
  • "Policy of Attracting Foreign Direct Investment for Socio-Economic and Tourism Planning Development in Vietnam to 2010" by Ministry ofPlanning and Investment, Vietnam
  • "Sustainable Tourism and Sustainable Development : Lessons from Bali" by Prof. Dr. Geoffrey Wall, Waterloo University

Day 1, 22 May 1997 : Plenary Session 2

• "Tourism Master Plan of Thua Thien-Hue Province" by Tourism Department of Thua Thien-Hue Province
• "Sustainable Cultural Heritage tourism" by Prof. Dr. Richard Butler, Surrey University
• "Ecotourism in Vietnam - Development Perspective and Challenge" by Vietnam Institute for Tourism Development Research
• "The Environment and its Role in Sustainable Tourism - Lessons from Pattaya" by Dr. Russell Arthur Smith, Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University
• "Human Resource Development and its Role in Sustainable Tourism Development in Vietnam" by Ministry of Education and Training
• "Vietnam : Education and Training for Sustainable Tourism Development Into the Next Century" by Dr. Luu Tran Kiem, Nanyang Business School, NTU and Mai Kim Dinh, Hanns Seidel Foundation
• "Tourism Development : Impact on Socio-Economic, Cultural and Environmental Development" by Dr. Hans Stoessel, former Director of Swiss School of Tourism and Hotel Management, Zurich
• "Changing Expectations for Travel and Tourism Enterprises by the Investment Community" by Prof. Dr. Michael Olsen, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Day 2, 23 May 1997

International Speakers will be giving presentations on various papers and plans:

• Session 1 : National Planning and Management for Tourism Development, Management and Investment Policy, Human Resource Development and Training, Marketing
• Session 2 : Sustainable Tourism with Resource, Environment and Cultural Heritage - Planning, Environment, Culture and Heritage, Institution

• Presentation of Summary Report from each Session
• Concluding Assessment Remarks and Proposed Action Plan
• Closing Remarks
• Farewell Dinner (Royal Court Dinner cum Cultural Show)

Day 3, 24 May 1997 (Optional)

Field Tour programs (to be booked directly with Huang Giang Hotel or Hotel Century Riverside)

Further Information and Conference Registration:

The Conference Administrator
1st International Conference on Sustainable Tourism in Vietnam
Hanns Seidel Foundation
510 Thomson Road, #12-04 SLF Building
Singapore 298179
Republic of Singapore
Fax: +65 2582732
Tel: + 65 2588011

Dr. Russell Arthur Smith
Chair, Conference Program Committee
1st International Conference on Sustainable Tourism in Vietnam
Nanyang Business School
Nanyang Technological University
Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798
E-mail: arasmith@ntu.edu.sg
Telephone (+65) 799 4836
Facsimile (+65) 791 3697

Submitted by Dr. Usha C. V. Haley, Academic Advisor to the Asia Pacific Management Forum