(VOVworld) - The International Conference on Tourism and Sports opened in the central city of Da Nang on Saturday.

Tourism and sports are considered as driving force for socio-economic development. My Khe beach in Da Nang. (Source: Internet)

The conference is part of this year’s action plan of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) hosted by Vietnam on the occasion of the fifth Asian Beach Games. Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam said at the opening ceremony that the link between sports and tourism will offer a good opportunity for the development of participating countries. This link will also create an excellent exchanges between peoples and nations and make the world peaceful and prosperous.

The conference focused on the development trend of tourism in combination with sports, mutual relations between tourism and sports, and contributions of tourism and sports to sustainable growth. Also high on the agenda were the ways and experience to develop tourist and sports products.

The Da Nang statement on tourism and sports for sustainable development was released at the end of the conference on the same day calling for more attention to tourism and sports development.