The Tourism Promotion Organisation for Asian Pacific Cities (TPO) Managing Board will meet from April 5-7 in Ho Chi Minh City to draw up a strategy to develop the organisation in a sustainable manner.

Sources from the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Service said that during the meeting, where TPO's implementation of tourism promotion co-operation plans in the 2005-2006 period will be reviewed, participants will focus their discussions on strengthening the TPO Managing Board's operation in a more efficient and stable way, improving the quality of the TPO Secretariat's operation, and reforming the member system.

It will also choose the venue for the third meeting of the TPO's General Assembly in 2007, initially scheduled in Vladivostok, Russia, and discuss preparations for the ninth meeting of the Managing Board from October 31 to November 3, 2006 in Hangzhou, China.

TPO was set up in August 2002 at the initiative of Busan city of the Republic of Korea to unite cities and organisations in the Asia-Pacific region in promoting tourism through the intra-regional exchange of experiences.

The organisation groups 51 cities from 13 countries and 29 tourist businesses in the Asia-Pacific region. Its Managing Board is comprised of 12 members, who are leaders of tourism services of 12 cities, namely Busan; Fukuoka, Japan; Brisbane, Australia; Guangzhou, China; Jakarta, Indonesia; Ipoh, Malaysia; Aukland, New Zealand; Manila, the Philippines; Vladivostok, Russia; Bangkok, Thailand; Honolulu, the US; and Ho Chi Minh City.

Besides Ho Chi Minh City, the northern port city of Hai Phong and the Viettravel Co. of Viet Nam are members of TPO. (VNA)