What happens when the most vibrant travel destinations in Southeast Asia join forces with one of Asia’s travel powerhouses? You get a game-changing collaboration to supercharge tourism across the region—and that’s exactly what’s kicking off with the first-ever ASEAN–Korea Tourism Roundtable, held in 2025.
Let’s Set the Scene 🌏✈️
Picture this: tourism officials, travel industry leaders, international experts, and cultural advocates from across ASEAN and South Korea gathering in Vietnam to lay the groundwork for something big. Not just any forum, but a regional milestone for building stronger, smarter, and more sustainable tourism relationships.
The event, which began on July 2nd, 2025, serves as a flagship activity under the ASEAN–Korea Free Trade Area (AKFTA) cooperation initiative. It’s all about driving forward regional collaboration in areas that matter most—especially in a post-pandemic world that craves connection, excitement, and safe travel.
A Meaningful Collaboration Built on Trust
Deputy Minister of Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr. Ho An Phong, captured the sentiment perfectly. Addressing the forum, he shared Vietnam’s pride in hosting this significant event and emphasized how it symbolizes strong, strategic ties between ASEAN and South Korea.
“Vietnam is honored to be the top destination in ASEAN chosen by Korean visitors, with 4.6 million arrivals in 2024,” Mr. Phong remarked. “This speaks volumes about the deep trust and affection shared between our people.”
Pretty special, right? His words reinforced a mutual commitment to not just cross-border tourism, but a shared cultural future brimming with opportunity.
Deputy Minister Ho An Phong speaking at the Roundtable
Where We’ve Been—and Where We’re Going
The roundtable isn’t just a meet-and-greet. It’s a laser-focused effort to identify and break through barriers that have long complicated regional tourism.
Here’s a quick snapshot of how far we’ve come:
- In 2024 alone, ASEAN nations welcomed nearly 127 million international tourists.
- South Korea emerged as one of the top three source markets, contributing around 10 million visitors.
- ASEAN–Korea tourism has seen robust recovery and growth post-COVID, with diversified travel offerings and elevated service quality.
But the road ahead? It’s even more exciting.
Da Nang at the Heart of It All
Hosting this landmark dialogue is none other than Da Nang—a city quickly becoming Vietnam’s innovation and tourism powerhouse. Trần Anh Tuấn, Vice Chairman of Da Nang’s People’s Committee, shared the city’s ambitions:
“Da Nang is set to become Vietnam’s top center for innovation, international trade, and high-quality tourism by 2030—and a global tourism hub by 2045.”
Those aren’t just lofty goals. With upgraded infrastructure, streamlined entry procedures, and digital transformation in full swing, Da Nang is walking the talk.
Da Nang commits to building a world-class tourist destination
The Roundtable Agenda: Making Tourism Better for Everyone
Running from July 2 to July 4, the ASEAN–Korea Roundtable honed in on four key priorities to take regional tourism to the next level:
1. Strengthening Safety and Convenience
Ensuring travelers feel safe and well-supported is more important than ever. The conference addressed mutual efforts to enhance travel security and simplify immigration procedures across borders.
2. Boosting Tourism Infrastructure
Better roads, more efficient airports, and digital-first booking systems are on the table as everyone seeks to improve guest experiences from arrival to departure.
3. Training the Next-Gen Tourism Workforce
From language skills to hospitality excellence, cross-border training initiatives aim to support professionals who are ready to wow travelers consistently.
4. Celebrating Cultural Diversity
Travel is how we share and celebrate who we are. That’s why cultural exchange and heritage promotion continue to be core values of ASEAN–Korea cooperation.
Experts gather to shape seamless travel experiences
Why This Matters — Now More Than Ever
Let’s be real: the past few years have been tough for travel. But this roundtable high-fives the incredible resilience of the tourism industry and sets the stage for traveling smarter, kinder, and closer together as a global community.
By zeroing in on innovation, inclusivity, and cooperation, the ASEAN–Korea partnership offers a blueprint for tourism that benefits everyone—from local businesses and cultural institutions to adventurous travelers looking for their next unforgettable experience.
Wrapping It Up 🌟
So, what’s the big takeaway from the ASEAN–Korea Tourism Roundtable 2025?
It’s this: when we come together with a shared vision and passion for storytelling through travel, amazing things happen. Tourism becomes more than an economic driver—it becomes a bridge across cultures, histories, and futures.
Stay tuned, because the best in ASEAN–Korea tourism is just getting started.
Visit the original update via Da Nang’s official site.