Press Release: International Science Workshop “The Link Between Mobility and Tourism: Creating Social Sustainability”

Tourism is a deeply social economic sector. In the past, tourism was considered a "golden goose", or compared to a "smokeless industry" due to its rapid growth rate and great contribution to the economy, especially in developing countries. However, not only contributing to the economy, the role of tourism in creating jobs, reducing poverty, stabilizing society, enhancing integration, cultural exchange, developing people's knowledge, consolidating peace... is also not small. Recognizing the importance of tourism, Vietnam has also determined to develop tourism quickly and sustainably, becoming a "key economic sector" in the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country, showing the determination of the Party and Government to focus resources on domestic tourism.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the importance of tourism is increasingly enhanced as the region's tourism is rising strongly, becoming one of the most vibrant tourism centers in the world. As of 2015, the total number of international visitors to the region reached 279 million, bringing in direct revenue of 418 billion USD. The number of international visitors to this region has increased more than 12 times compared to 1980, and more than 3 times compared to 1995, currently second only to the Europe region, more than 1.4 times higher than the Americas region, 5 times higher than the Africa and Middle East regions. The growth rate is always high in the world (UNWTO, 2016).

In the context of regional integration, especially the adoption of TPP and common policies in the Asia-Pacific region, research on repositioning the position of regional tourism in general, and re-evaluating the role of Vietnamese tourism in particular, is an urgent need. From the above theoretical and practical requirements, foreign partners, including Bournemouth University (UK) proposed to coordinate with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities to organize a workshop "The Link Between Mobility and Tourism: Creating Social Sustainability”. The workshop aims to create a forum for domestic and foreign scholars and tourism researchers to exchange, acquire experiences, share knowledge, research results and methods related to the current tourism development situation of the region; the role and influence of tourism activities of some major countries in the region; and at the same time, position Vietnam's tourism in the region in the context of integration.

The conference will be attended by about 30 scholars from many different countries (including the UK, Germany, Italy, the US, Japan, Canada, Belgium, Korea, Macao, Taiwan, the Philippines, Brazil, ...) with 5 world-class speakers in the field of tourism academia. In addition, at the conference, there will also be a book launch on tourism mobility by Prof. Sabine Marschall, from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. On the Vietnamese side, the conference will be attended by representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, representatives of the General Department of Tourism, representatives of the Institute for Tourism Development Research, representatives of the Board of Directors of the National University, representatives of tourism training schools in Vietnam, and domestic scientific researchers.

• Workshop Details: “Nexus of Migration and Tourism: Creating Social Sustainability Syposium” (The Link Between Mobility and Tourism: Creating Social Sustainability)

Time: 09:00 – 18:00 September 20 - 21, 2018.

Location: Room 304, Building E, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, 336 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi.

Language: English.

• For more information about the Workshop, please contact:

Bui Nhat Quynh (Ms): 0888088808

Email: buinhatquynh1512@gmail.com

Faculty of Tourism Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU.

Room 509, Building B, 336 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi.