Busan is good

Global Tourism Organization (TPO) Successfully Concludes 12th General Assembly Busan Selected Again as Next Chair City, Digital and Green Chair Declaration Adopted

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) and the Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO, Secretary General Kang Da-eun) announced that the 12th TPO General Assembly was held from September 3 to 6 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where the “Digital and Green Chair Declaration,” outlining a blueprint for the future of urban tourism, was adopted.

More than 1,000 representatives from 33 cities and tourism industry stakeholders attended the assembly, which served as an important milestone in presenting a new paradigm for global tourism.

The Chair Declaration, proposed by Ho Chi Minh City as the presiding city, set forth the key goals of building a smart tourism ecosystem that integrates cutting-edge digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), and achieving sustainable tourism development through green transition.

The declaration also reaffirmed member cities’ commitment to advancing smart and sustainable tourism through innovation and international cooperation. In particular, members pledged to promote the development and application of green technologies centered on the TPO “Green Horizon” platform, with the aim of building an eco-friendly tourism system for future generations.

At this General Assembly, member cities made major operational decisions, including the election of the new TPO Chair City and the determination of the next assembly host city.

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Busan was unanimously re-elected as the next chair city, reaffirming its position as a global tourism hub. The city also received a plaque of appreciation in recognition of its successful role and contributions as chair city.

Gimhae (Republic of Korea) and Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia) were elected as co-chair cities and, together with Busan, will lead the General Assembly and Executive Committee for the next two years beginning in 2026. In addition, 11 cities, including Busan, were appointed as the next Executive Committee cities, and will spearhead TPO’s core initiatives.

Through member city voting, it was also decided that the 13th General Assembly will be held in Gimhae, and the 11th TPO Forum will be hosted in Ulsan. With these decisions, all of TPO’s key conferences will be hosted in Korea, further elevating the country’s stature as a central hub of international tourism cooperation.

TPO also amended its charter to establish new provisions for regional meetings, aiming to revitalize regional networks and maximize efficiency in decision-making.

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During the assembly, a wide range of events took place, including keynote presentations and high-level discussion forums on urban tourism strategies based on digital technology and sustainability, a TPO joint promotional briefing, and bilateral meetings.

• ●[Keynote Presentations and High-Level Discussion Forums] Cities including Gimhae, Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia), Samarkand (Uzbekistan), Ipoh (Malaysia), and Incheon (Republic of Korea) presented best practices in green and digital transformation, attracting significant attention from participants. The forums also explored ways to strengthen cooperation among member cities.

• ●[Joint Promotional Briefing] Five Korean cities, including Busan, as well as Sanya (China), Hanoi (Vietnam), and Taichung (Taiwan), participated in the joint promotional briefing to showcase their unique attractions on the global stage.

• ●[Bilateral Meetings] More than 12 bilateral meetings were held to discuss potential joint projects, laying the groundwork for concrete future collaboration.

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Particularly notable was the revival of the TPO Best Awards after six years, which highlighted outstanding achievements in tourism policies and projects by member cities.

A total of 10 cities received honors across five categories:

• ●Tourism Marketing: Taichung (Taiwan), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Taiping (Malaysia)

• ●Tourism Innovation: Incheon (Republic of Korea)

• ●Sustainable Tourism: Ipoh (Malaysia), Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia), Hanoi (Vietnam), Batu (Indonesia)

• ●Tourism Leadership: Ipoh (Malaysia)

• ●Tourism Media: Sanya (China)

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Building on the outcomes of this General Assembly, Busan plans to further strengthen cooperation networks among member cities through the 1st Global Urban Tourism Summit, which will be held in Busan from October 27 to 29.

The city aims to advance diverse global projects such as human exchange, tourism innovation research, and joint promotional platforms.

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Kang Da-eun, Secretary General of TPO, stated, “This General Assembly reaffirmed member cities’ strong commitment to smart tourism and green transition. Building on the Chair Declaration, joint projects among member cities will be pursued with greater momentum.”

Vice Mayor for Future Innovation of Busan Metropolitan City, Seong Heui-yeob, remarked, “This assembly was a meaningful occasion to discuss the future of sustainable tourism in the post-COVID era and to share the creative policies and visions of each member city. As the chair city, Busan will continue to work closely with member cities to fulfill its role as a global tourism leader.”