Busan is good

Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO) Holds the 12th General Assembly… Leading the Future of Global Tourism through Digital and Green Transformation

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) and the Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (Secretary-General Kang Dae-eun) announced that the 12th General Assembly of the Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO) will be held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for four days from September 3 to 6.

The Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO) is an international organization established in 2002 to promote the development of the tourism industry among cities. Busan Metropolitan City currently serves as the chair city, and the Secretariat is located in Busan.

This year’s General Assembly will be held under the theme “Envisioning the Future of Tourism: Embracing Digital and Green Transformation.” More than 1,000 participants, including delegations from 131 member cities worldwide—among them the co-chair cities Busan, Jeonju, and Sanya (China)—as well as key stakeholders in the tourism industry, will gather to share insights on future tourism strategies.

The central agenda of the Assembly, “Green Tourism,” is a concrete action strategy to enhance urban sustainability. Beyond environmental protection, it encompasses comprehensive concepts covering the economy and society, such as low-carbon transportation systems, eco-friendly accommodation certification, and development of community-based coexistence programs. Member cities of TPO will share best practices and explore avenues for cooperation in this area.

The General Assembly will feature a variety of programs, beginning with the opening ceremony, followed by plenary sessions, thematic sessions, city case presentations, and bilateral meetings. Time will also be allocated to share outstanding tourism policies and exemplary practices of member cities, expected to provide practical assistance in shaping local tourism policies.

In addition, a range of side events will be held, including joint promotional sessions, tourism roadshows, and the TPO Best Awards ceremony, providing opportunities for participating cities to promote tourism and strengthen networking.

Particularly noteworthy will be the key thematic sessions featuring world-renowned experts. Speakers include Professor Justin Matthew Pang of RMIT University, Daniel Wu, Director of Global Government Relations at Agoda, and Harry Huang, Regional Director for Asia-Pacific at UNWTO, who will present visions and strategies for the future of urban tourism.

During the Assembly, major organizational decisions will also take place, including the election of the next co-chair cities (2026–2027), as well as the selection of host cities for the 13th General Assembly (2027) and the 11th TPO Forum (2028).

Busan Metropolitan City will take this opportunity to actively promote the upcoming “2025 Global City Tourism Summit,” scheduled to be held in Busan from October 27 to 29, building momentum from the outcomes of the Assembly. At the joint promotional session, the city will encourage active participation by member cities and present the vision of the Summit as an international cooperation platform that extends the achievements of the TPO General Assembly.

The General Assembly will be held in conjunction with major large-scale events such as the International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC 2025) and the Viet Nam International Sourcing 2025, creating significant synergy effects. It is expected that about 30,000 global tourism stakeholders will gather in Ho Chi Minh City during this period, leading to vibrant international exchanges and business discussions.

Kang Dae-eun, Secretary-General of TPO, emphasized, “This General Assembly will serve as a new milestone for the paradigm shift of urban tourism systems, focusing on the two pillars of digital and green transformation. Through concrete action tasks with member cities, we will firmly establish a global policy-sharing platform for cities.”

Seong Heui-yeob, Vice Mayor for Future Innovation of Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “As the chair city, Busan will work with TPO member cities to respond to the global challenges of digital transformation and the climate crisis, pioneering the future of the global tourism industry. In particular, the strategies to promote Green Tourism discussed at this General Assembly will provide new opportunities for member cities, and our city will faithfully fulfill its responsibilities.”