Overview of the meeting (Photo: TITC)

Vietnam and Korea are two closely related countries, with warm and developing cooperative relations in all aspects, including tourism, said VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh.

Informing about Vietnam tourism recently, VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh stated, Vietnam tourism is having a positive and strong recovery, both in domestic and international tourism. In the first 8 months of 2023, the number of international tourists coming to Vietnam has reached 98% of the 2023 plan. Korean visitors to Vietnam have recovered 81% compared to the same period in 2019, the time before the pandemic. In the opposite direction, Vietnamese tourists to Korea are also increasing rapidly.

VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh highly appreciates the role and effective activities of the Promotion Office of the Busan Tourism Organisation in Vietnam. The office has conducted research on the psychology and tastes of Vietnamese people, thereby creating attractive tour programmes to attract Vietnamese people to travel to Korea.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Chairman of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) having a meeting with Mr. Lee Jong Sil, President / CEO of Busan Tourism Organization (Korea) (Photo: TITC)

Regarding tourism cooperation between Vietnam and Korea, in December 2022, the national tourism agencies of Vietnam and Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding on tourism cooperation period of 2023 - 2024. This is the premise for cooperation to develop the tourism industry of the two countries in general, as well as between key tourist cities of Vietnam and Korea, indicated VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh. However, VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh also said that Korea's visa issuance policy for Vietnamese tourists is limited, causing the amount of tourist exchange between Vietnam and Korea in general and Busan in particular to not be high.

Regarding the field of promotion, in recent years, Vietnam's tourism industry has focused on implementing promotional activities, introducing tourism to the Korean market such as attending and organising promotional activities at the Seoul International Travel Fair (SITF - former name KOTFA), Hana Tour Fair; supporting Korea to attend International Travel Expo - ITE HCMC in Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam International Travel Mart - VITM in Ha Noi. In 2022 and 2023, leaders of VNAT attended the World Tourism Industry Conference within the framework of the SITF in Korea.

Thanks to the attention of the Vietnamese Government, a number of policies have been issued to create favourable conditions for international tourists, including Koreans. From 15th August 2023, Korean tourists are eligible for a visa exemption policy to enter Vietnam for a duration of up to 45 days. Along with that, the frequency of flights connecting Vietnam and Korea has also been increased. Some major cities in Korea (Seoul, Incheon, Busan, Jeju, Daegu...) have regular direct flights or charter flights to Ha Noi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc (Vietnam). The Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) also appointed Mr. Lee Chang Kun as Vietnam Tourism Ambassador in Korea since 2018 to support promotional activities of Vietnam tourism in Korea. In 2019, Mr. Lee Chang Kun opened the Vietnam Tourism Promoting Office in Korea.

Regarding strengthening tourism cooperation with Busan, VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh suggested Busan to share experiences in destination management, product development (sea and island - cultural - culinary tourism), promote destination promotion and attract local community participation in tourism development. At the same time, the two sides increased information sharing and invited each other to attend major cultural - tourism - cinema events and activities of Vietnam and Busan. Encourage increasing frequency and operating additional direct flights connecting Vietnamese destinations with Busan. Consider developing the potential of cruise tourism connecting Vietnam's seaports with Busan. Support each other in organising promotional activities, promoting and connecting travel businesses in Vietnam and Busan.

Mr. Lee Jong Sil, President / CEO of Busan Tourism Organization (Korea) congratulates the achievements that Vietnamese tourism has achieved in recent times. According to Mr. Lee Jong Sil, Vietnam is a beautiful country with friendly and talented people.

Informing about Busan tourism situation, Mr. Lee Jong Sil said, Busan is South Korea's largest port city, located at the southern tip of the Korean peninsula. Busan is famous for its diverse sea and island tourism, culture, cinema, and culinary products. Every year, Busan hosts the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in October - one of the most prominent events in Asia. Some famous tourist attractions in Busan include: Gamcheon Cultural Village, Haeundae Beach, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple (Korea's ancient temple), Busan Tower, Busan Cinema Center… In the first 7 months of 2023, there were 44,024 Vietnamese visitor arrivals travelling to Busan, accounting for 19% and ranking the 4th among international tourist markets to this province.

Cooperation to increase the number of tourists travelling to Vietnam and Busan in the future is extremely important, stated President / CEO of Busan Tourism Organization (Korea) Lee Jong Sil. Increasing flights connecting Vietnam and Korea as well as the two countries' major cities, including Busan, will create favourable conditions for the people of the two countries to exchange cultures and explore the beauty of the two countries.

Regarding visa issuance for Vietnamese tourists, Mr. Lee Jong Sil will propose this issue to the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to have a request to the Ministry of Justice of this country to have a policy to loosen visas for Vietnamese tourists in the near future.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Chairman of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) gifting souvenir to Mr. Lee Jong Sil, President / CEO of Busan Tourism Organization (Korea) (Photo: TITC)

Mr. Lee Jong Sil, President / CEO of Busan Tourism Organization (Korea) gifting souvenir to Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Chairman of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) (Photo: TITC)

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