On July 30, 2026, at the Hoàng Sơn Peace Hotel in Hoa Lư ward, Ninh Bình province, the Ninh Bình Department of Tourism held a symposium with a working delegation from the Shimane Prefectural Government (Japan) to exchange information, share experience, and promote tourism cooperation between the two localities.
Attending the symposium were: Mr. Phạm Duy Phong, Deputy Director of the Ninh Bình Department of Tourism; Mr. Nguyễn Văn Minh, Director of the Ninh Bình Tourism Information and Promotion Center; Ms. Dương Thị Thanh, Chairwoman of the Ninh Bình Tourism Association; and Mr. Trương Quốc Hùng, Chairman of the Hanoi UNESCO Travel Club, along with representatives of travel companies and tourist sites and attractions in the province.
On the Japanese side were Mr. Hiromi Abe, Senior Officer of the Tourism Promotion Division, Shimane Prefectural Government; Mr. Masahiro Kabashima, Strategic Advisor for Tourism, Shimane Prefectural Government; Ms. Toshikuni Fujii, Deputy Head of the Tourism Promotion Division, Shimane Prefectural Government; and Mr. Cao Thanh Đình, Local Coordinator in Vietnam and Chairman and CEO of ANPZ Co., Ltd.
Speaking at the symposium, Mr. Phạm Duy Phong expressed his pleasure at welcoming the Shimane delegation to visit and work in Ninh Bình. He stressed that in recent years Ninh Bình has made strong progress in tourism, becoming an attractive destination for domestic and international visitors, with the Tràng An Scenic Landscape Complex, a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site, as well as a system of historical and cultural relics, traditional festivals, and distinctive natural landscapes.
At the meeting, the two sides gave overviews of the potential, strengths, and tourism development orientations of Ninh Bình and Shimane. Through the exchange, delegates noted that the two localities share many similarities in tourism resources, particularly in natural landscapes, historical and cultural values, and community life tied to heritage conservation and sustainable tourism development.
Representatives of Shimane Prefecture highly appreciated Ninh Bình's achievements in heritage conservation and in developing ecotourism and cultural tourism. The delegation also shared Japan's experience in building distinctive tourism products, improving service quality, applying technology in destination promotion, and developing tourism human resources.
The symposium took place in an open, friendly, and cooperative atmosphere. The two sides agreed to continue exchanging information, strengthen connections among tourism management agencies, tourism associations, and businesses, and study joint tourism promotion activities, contributing to cultural exchange, stronger friendship, and expanded cooperation between Ninh Bình and Shimane.
This symposium was not only an occasion for the two localities to share tourism development experience but also opens up practical cooperation opportunities for the future, helping bring Ninh Bình's tourism image closer to Japanese and international visitors.