In attendance were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development Jini Cunek of the Czech Republic and Ministers of Tourism from Laos and Cambodia, in addition to the Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism of host Vietnam Hoang Tuan Anh.

The event also drew members of the ASEM diplomatic corps in Hanoi, senior officials in charge of tourism from the member countries and executives of the domestic hospitality industry.

Conservation of cultural heritages and identities, eco-environment protection, tourism contributions to rural development and poverty reduction were highlighted as long-term measures for sustainable growth in the two continents.

The World Tourism Organisation reported that Asia and Europe welcomed 828.7 million foreign arrivals in 2007, accounting for over 92 percent of the world’s total. Of them, European countries made up 53.5 percent with 480 million arrivals.