VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh and JNTO’s representatives (Photo: TITC)

At the meeting, Mr. Yoshida Kenji - Chief Representative of JNTO Vietnam said, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan (1973 - 2023), Japanese Crown Prince Fumihito Akishino paid an official visit to Vietnam. Japan and Vietnam have also signed cooperation agreements in many fields, including tourism, thereby creating conditions for people to exchange and understand each other, raising the friendly relationship between the two countries to a new level.

In an effort to promote tourism recovery and development, in the first 9 months of 2023, Japan has welcomed about 440 thousand Vietnamese visitor arrivals, an increase of 16.9% over the same period in 2019 and is expected to surpass the number of 500 thousand arrivals as before the Covid-19 pandemic by the end of this year.

Chief Representative of JNTO Vietnam Yoshida Kenji (Photo: TITC)

According to JNTO’s Chief Representative, JNTO organised the Incentive Travel Business Meetings to enhance the connectivity, exchange of both sides. The event brings together localities, tourism businesses, accommodation businesses, travel services and destinations in Japan as sellers and Vietnamese tourism businesses as buyers.

JNTO’s Chief Representative Yoshida Kenji believes that with the attention of the national tourism agency, the exchange and cooperation of travel businesses will be an opportunity for the two countries to increase visitor exchange, promote recovery and accelerate tourism development in the new normal context.

Ms. Kawasaki Etsuko - Executive Director of Japan Convention Bureau (JNTO) (Photo: TITC)

Ms. Kawasaki Etsuko - Executive Director of Japan Convention Bureau (JNTO) shared, currently, incentive travel is receiving deep attention in Japan. At the Meeting, delegates and distinguished guests will be introduced to useful tourism information as well as open opportunities for localities and businesses from both sides to meet and cooperate in implementing new, attractive tourism programmes.

VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh speaking at the meeting (Photo: TITC)

Speaking at the event, VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh stressed, Vietnam and Japan have good friendly relations, especially this year marks the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries. Partnership and people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and Japan have always been promoted by all levels and sectors, achieving many good achievements.

Remarkably, from 15th August 2023, Vietnam officially applies new visa policies. Japanese tourists coming to Vietnam are unilaterally exempted from visas and will enjoy an extended temporary stay duration of up to 45 days. In addition, the flight route between Vietnam and Japan has resumed as before the Covid-19 pandemic, and the frequency of flights is increasing to facilitate travel for tourists.

VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh added, to promote cooperation in tourism promotion, in early September 2023, Vietnam organised the Vietnam Festival in Kanagawa with the theme "Connecting to the Future''. On 7th and 8th October, at Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, the 7th Vietnam Phở Festival also took place to promote the quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine to the Japanese public.

Overview of the meeting (Photo: TITC)

Recently, the exchange of visitors between Vietnam and Japan has always taken place and grown strongly. Noticeably, from 1st November 2023, the Japanese government has implemented a policy of issuing electronic visas (e-visa) for Vietnamese tourist groups, creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese travel companies to send tourists to the Japanese market. Also, VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh inquired JNTO to consider and recommend the Japanese Government to create favourable conditions with more open policies for the Vietnamese market.

VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh believes that the close cooperation between VNAT and JNTO will attract businesses from both countries to invest in tourism, service infrastructure, and market connections suitable to the demands of tourists from both countries. The programmes to introduce Vietnam tourism in Japan and vice versa as well as the programme on Incentive Japan tourism business connection and introduction will be a solid basis for both sides to promote tourism cooperation and visitor exchange, especially at a time when tourism needs to be quickly and effectively restored post the pandemic.

In the framework of the meeting, delegates and guests listened to representatives of JNTO introduce Incentive Travel in Japan; representatives of localities and tourism businesses introduced destinations, products, tourism services, accommodation, dining, and entertainment facilities in Japan…

VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh taking souvenir photo with JNTO’s representatives (Photo: TITC)

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