“SHAPING THE FUTURE OF TOURISM: EMBRACING DIGITAL AND GREEN TRANSFORMATION”
Ho Chi Minh City, September 3rd, 2025, the opening ceremony of the 12th General Assembly Meeting of the Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO) took place at 3:00 PM on September 3rd, 2025, at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel (No. 88 Dong Khoi Street, Sai Gon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City).
The 12th General Assembly Meeting of the Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities is a significant event, bringing together leaders from TPO member cities, experts, and tourism organizations from many countries and territories worldwide. The event is held in Ho Chi Minh City – a dynamic economic, cultural, and tourism center of Vietnam. This special event is organized at a time when Vietnam is holding many practical activities to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2nd, 1945 – September 2nd, 2025), marking a new era of Vietnam – an era of strong development with peace-loving friends and sustainable development for the future of the next generations across the five continents. Ho Chi Minh City is the first city in Vietnam to host the TPO General Assembly in 2025 – the 50th anniversary of national reunification (April 30th, 1975 – April 30th, 2025). Hosting the TPO General Assembly within the framework of the ITE HCMC 2025 is a “one arrow – many targets” strategy, enhancing the international position, and creating momentum for economic, commercial, tourism, and innovation development.
The opening ceremony will be attended by representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam, the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, the Office of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, representatives of the TPO Secretariat, representatives of TPO member cities (Busan, Changnyeong, Changwon, Geochang, Geoje, Gimhae, Goseong, Gyeonggi-Do, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangnam-Do, Haman, Hamyang, Hanoi, Hapcheon, Incheon, Ipoh, Jeonju, Jinju, Kampar, Manjung, Namhae, Pohang, Samarkand, Sancheong, Sanya, Taichung, Taiping, Tay Ninh), speakers, representatives of the consulates general of China, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia and Uzbekistan, along with Vietnamese and international media units.
In his opening speech for the TPO General Assembly Meeting, Mr. Nguyen Van Duoc, Member of the Central Party Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized: “As one of the founding cities and the only city in Vietnam serving as a member of the TPO Executive Board, over the past two decades, Ho Chi Minh City is proud to actively contribute to the organization’s activities, constantly promoting links and cooperation in tourism development among members, and asserting its central role in the region’s tourism development. Hosting this TPO General Assembly is a significant milestone, clearly demonstrating Ho Chi Minh City’s responsibility and commitment to promoting synchronous, innovative, and sustainable regional tourism development.”
He also expressed his hopes: “As a member of the Executive Board and the host city, we hope that, through the sessions, leadership conferences, and bilateral and multilateral connection programs of the member cities, the TPO General Assembly 2025 will develop and agree upon a common message and a Chairman’s declaration with practical and highly feasible initiatives to promote the sustainable development of tourism. We believe that Ho Chi Minh City’s pioneering proposal of initiatives in this General Assembly’s joint declaration will be maintained and developed in subsequent activities to strengthen the connection among the organization’s members toward our common goals.”
In her welcome speech, Mrs. Kang Da-eun, Secretary-General of the Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO), shared: “The theme of the 12th General Assembly, ‘Shaping the Future of Tourism: Embracing Digital and Green Transformation,’ reflects the challenges and opportunities of our time. Digital innovation strengthens connections and enhances experiences, while green transformation ensures sustainable and comprehensive growth. With this orientation, tourism will become a powerful driver for the prosperity and development of our member cities.”
She also stated: “TPO is not just an organization but also a family of cities and people, united by the belief that tourism is a force for good” and affirmed that “a successful tourism industry will create a better world.”
Shaping the Future of the Tourism Industry: Embracing Digital and Green Transformation – A pressing issue for the global tourism industry.
With the theme “Shaping the Future of Tourism: Embracing Digital and Green Transformation,” the TPO General Assembly 2025 is a critical agenda for the tourism industry. The industry faces major challenges such as climate change, the need for personalized visitor experiences, and the rapid development of technology and artificial intelligence. Digital and green transformation are not just trends, but vital factors in ensuring the sustainable development of the tourism industry. Specifically, digital transformation helps the tourism industry improve management efficiency, enhance visitor experiences, and expand market access in a smart and rapid way. Meanwhile, green transformation is an essential strategy to minimize negative impacts on the environment, protect natural resources, and preserve local cultural identities, leaving a sustainable legacy for both nature and society for future generations. Digital and green transformation are identified as two pillars and two important strategies affecting the structure, nature, and sustainable development of the global tourism industry, aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. The discussion theme of this General Assembly also affirms the central role of people in the transformation process, from awareness to decisive and scientific action for sustainable development. It also emphasizes the collaboration of stakeholders, including government, businesses, communities, and visitors, in planning and implementing specific actions for a common goal.
Digital and Green Transformation in Ho Chi Minh City’s Tourism Sector: Adapting for Development
Ho Chi Minh City has identified digital and green transformation as strategic choices for developing sustainable tourism and contributing to environmental protection. For megacities like Ho Chi Minh City, implementing digital and green transformation will help enhance competitiveness, attract high-quality tourists, create long-term added value, promote innovation, apply technology in destination management, measure emissions, and guide responsible tourism consumption. Moreover, digital and green transformation create a foundation for Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism to adapt effectively to future crises and integrate strongly into global trends.
Therefore, the 12th General Assembly Meeting of the Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities, with its specialized workshops, high-level forums, and bilateral conferences, will focus on solutions for applying digital technology and developing sustainable tourism, helping Ho Chi Minh City update trends and build a suitable tourism strategy.
————–
Regarding the Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO):
TPO (The Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities) was established in 2002 with the goal of serving as a hub for promotion, information exchange, and communication among tourism cities in the Asia-Pacific region. The organization was founded during the 5th Asia-Pacific City Summit (APCS) held in Fukuoka, Japan, in 2002. To date, TPO has 131 member cities and 56 members comprising tourism organizations and enterprises from 17 countries and territories, all working together to create a global community aimed at sustainable tourism development.
Ho Chi Minh City is one of the founding cities and the only city in Vietnam serving as a member of the Executive Board. The city has actively participated in TPO’s activities, making effective contributions to strengthening and expanding cooperative relationships and sharing experiences in tourism development among member cities. In particular, through TPO, Ho Chi Minh City has proactively and actively promoted its destination image to the global tourism community, helping to attract an increasing number of international visitors to the city, especially from key markets in Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia. Since January 2024, TPO has officially changed its name to the Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities, with the aim of enhancing tourism promotion and marketing worldwide.
Objectives and Vision of the 12th TPO General Assembly
The 12th TPO General Assembly in Ho Chi Minh City sets out strategic objectives to:
- Promote Digital Transformation in Tourism: Focus on applying modern technologies such as AI, big data, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) to enhance visitor experiences, optimize destination management, and improve marketing effectiveness.
- Develop Green and Sustainable Tourism: Encourage environmentally friendly tourism solutions that minimize negative impacts on the climate, preserve cultural and natural heritage, and promote social responsibility within the tourism industry.
- Strengthen International Cooperation: Serve as a bridge for TPO member cities to share knowledge and experiences, jointly develop multinational tourism programs and projects, and promote the flow of tourists between cities.
- Enhance Destination Competitiveness: Share strategies for developing unique tourism products, improving service quality, and building attractive destination brand.
HO CHI MINH CITY DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
