Vladivostok Hosts Tourism Promotion Organization Forum

VLADIVOSTOK. August 25. VOSTOK-MEDIA – Vladivostok is hosting a forum of the most numerous international tourism community in the Pacific for the first time ever.

The forum of the Tourism Promotion Organization for Asian Pacific Cities is being held in Hyundai Hotel, a Vladivostok Administration spokesman said.

Yesterday, about 60 delegates from more than 20 cities of South Korea, Japan, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia, the Hawaiian Islands (the US) and other countries arrived in Vladivostok. Vladivostok-based and foreign tour operators, as well as foreign authorities and diplomatic officials, will also participate in talks on prospects for expanding tourism cooperation during the two-day forum.

The foreign officials and managers of tour operators will take an extensive tour around Vladivostok to get some insight into the tourist and investment potential of the city and its cultural programs. The forum is being held just months before yet another major event – Asia-Pacific Mayors Forum, which is scheduled for this fall.

Given the ongoing preparations for a high-profile event – APEC 2012 Russia, it becomes apparent that Vladivostok took a giant step toward securing its position as a center for the international cooperation in the Pacific Rim.

Vladivostok is the only Russian city with membership of the Tourism Promotion Organization. Altogether the organization has a membership of 63 major cities and 39 companies from 12 countries of the Asia-Pacific region. TPO aims to promote concerted effort of the international tourism community and expand mutually-beneficial cooperation in the field of tourism.