Border tourism plays an important role in the nation, as it has 4,550km of land border and 25 border provinces, lined with 42 international and major border gates, said the seminar.

However, it said, border tourism development has failed to match the country’s potential as the number of international tourists coming to Vietnam through its border gates represents only around 20% of the country’s total.

This is attributed to limited investment in tourism development, promotion activities and personnel development in border provinces, poor tourism infrastructure and complicated entry and exit procedures, said the seminar.

The participants assessed the situation and solutions to promote and develop border tourism together with maintaining defence security.

They also put forward solutions to reform entry and exit procedures at the border gates as well as orientations and policies to develop the traffic infrastructure in Vietnam’s border provinces.

Lang Son, Lao Cai, Quang Ninh and Dien Bien in the North, Kon Tum in the Central Highlands and Tay Ninh and An Giang in the South and a number of international travel agents shared their experiences in organising trans-border tours through border gates.

The seminar confirmed the significance as well as the considerable potential of an international land border gate system for tourism activities. It suggested due attention be paid to solutions to policy mechanism, tourism planning, infrastructure investment and the management of community tourism in border-adjacent provinces.