An Bang beach is a famous destination in Hoi An.(Photo: vntrip)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s renowned destinations, excellent tourismproducts and policies will be nudged closer to European friends under aprogramme held by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism incollaboration with relevant parties from June 18-29.
The programme serves as a catalyst to lure more European tourists whilecreating venue for tourism enterprises to bolster cooperation. It is scheduledin Zurich (Switzerland), Munich (Germany), Vienna (Austria), Budapest (Hungary)and Prague (the Czech Republic).
Recently, Edelweiss, Switzerland’s leading leisure airline, announced that itwill open a direct air route connecting Zurich and Ho Chi Minh City. This isthe first direct flight between the two countries, aiming to reduce traveltimes and create impetus for bilateral tourism and trade development.
Vietnam’s renowned tourism hotspots have become increasingly alluring for Swissnationals. The carrier plans to bring 10,500 passengers to the Vietnamesesouthern hub every year. In 2017, Vietnam welcomed 32,000 Swiss arrivals andthe figure is expected to rise 10 percent every year thanks to the directflight.
The Czech Republic and Austria are potential markets for Vietnam’s tourism,therefore, it is crucial to focus more on promotion activities in thosecountries.
As Germany is deemed as a significant market, the Vietnamese tourism sectorshould accelerate marketing and promotion programmes to lure more Germantourists, particularly the introduction of the country’s visa policy for fivewestern European countries, including Germany.
From 2015, the Vietnamese Government decided to extend visa exemptions by anadditional year for tourists from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italyand Spain. The policy will last until 2020 to attract tourists from thosecountries.
Spurred by visa exemption policy and tourism promotion campaigns, number ofwestern European visitors to Vietnam surged rapidly.
In 2015, the country served 720,000 western European holiday-makers while thenumber increased to 1.5 million people in 2017.
In the first five months of this year, Vietnam welcomed 976,000 visitors fromEurope, a year-on-year increase of 11.8 percent. -VNA
VNA
