Ho Chi Minh City, September 4, 2025 – The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, organized the High-Level Tourism Forum under the theme “Shaping the Future of Tourism: Towards Digital and Green Transformation” to discuss digital and green transformation solutions, enhance competitiveness, expand international cooperation, and promote sustainable development of Vietnam’s tourism industry and the region.
The Importance of Digital and Green Transformation
In an era of technology and climate change, the global tourism industry faces an urgent need to innovate and adapt. Two strategic pillars highlighted at the Forum are digital transformation and green transformation.
- Digital transformation not only improves management efficiency but also offers personalized travel experiences and optimizes decision-making processes based on big data, thereby increasing national tourism competitiveness.
- Green transformation is a global trend, reflecting the tourism industry’s responsibility to the environment and society. In Vietnam, this trend contributes to realizing the commitment to achieve Net-Zero emissions by 2050, as announced by Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính at COP26.
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyễn Văn Hùng emphasized: “The Forum is an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange experiences and propose creative ideas to shape a sustainable, smart tourism future.”
Two Main Discussion Sessions of the Forum
The Forum consists of two major sessions, each delving into a key aspect of the theme:
- Session 1: Overview of the Role of Digital and Green Transformation
- Mr. Harry Hwang, Regional Director for Asia-Pacific at the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), shared in-depth perspectives on digital and green transformation trends in international tourism.
- Ms. Natalie Kidd, Asia Managing Director at Intrepid Travel Group, emphasized empowering communities through responsible innovation.
- Mr. Olivier Ponti, Vice President of Insights at ForwardKeys, analyzed visitor behavior data and presented key forecasts for the industry.
- Session 2: Discussion on Solutions for Digital and Green Transformation
- Moderated by Dr. Daniel Chong Ka Leong (Sunway University), the session featured top Vietnamese experts and policymakers including Dr. Hà Văn Siêu (Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism) and Associate Professor Dr. Phạm Hồng Long (Vietnam National University, Hanoi). Speakers focused on practical solutions to apply digital and green transformation in tourism.
Government Commitments and Future Vision
In his directive speech at the Forum, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Văn Chính affirmed: “Digital and green transformation are not two separate paths, but two parallel pillars to build a modern, sustainable, and human-centered tourism industry.”
He expressed confidence that, with shared vision and decisive action, Vietnam’s tourism will become a leading destination in the region and the world. The Vietnamese Government is committed to creating all favorable conditions for businesses, investors, and citizens to actively and effectively participate in this transformation process.
The High-Level Tourism Forum 2025 is not only a platform for knowledge exchange but also a pivotal milestone that sets the direction for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s tourism industry in the future.
