(TITC) On 9th January 2023 in Mong Cai City, Vietnam Tourism Association in collaboration with Quang Ninh Province and related partners held a conference with the theme "Solutions to attract Chinese tourists to Vietnam”. This is very relevant content in the context as China reopening tourism activities from 8th January 2023.
Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh - VNAT’s Chairman, Mr. Vu The Binh - Chairman of Vietnam Tourism Association, Mr. Pham Ngoc Thuy, Director of Quang Ninh Province’s Department of Tourism, and Mr. Hoang Ba Nam - Secretary of Mong Cai City Party Committee cochaired the conference.
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh informed that China is one of the world’s largest and most important source markets due to nearly 155 million outbound tourists in 2019, spending 255 billion USD. Countries in ASEAN region and the world all have measures to exploit this market.
China is always the largest tourist source market of Vietnam with more than 5.8 million visitor arrivals in 2019, accounting for 30% of the total number of international visitor arrivals to Vietnam. Vietnam is also always in the top 5 of China's largest source markets.
Under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, China has applied the Zero COVID policy - almost completely closed in the past 3 years. This has left a gap that is difficult to fill for the international tourism market to Vietnam. China's tourism market has not yet opened, which is an important reason why the number of international visitors to Vietnam in 2022 has not been as expected.
The adjustment of China's policy on pandemic prevention and entry/exit from 8th January 2023 is a positive signal for the tourism industry in the early days of 2023. So the land and sea border gates are opened. Commercial flights between the two countries are resumed. It is anticipated that there will be significant opportunities for international tourism activities of the entire industry, as well as localities and businesses.
VNAT’s Chairman asked localities and businesses to prepare the best service to welcome Chinese tourists related to ensuring pandemic prevention, building tourism products and services in line with the needs and preferences of Chinese tourists after the pandemic, upgrading tourism facilities, enhancing tourism promotion and developing a promotion website in Chinese.
Chairman of Vietnam Tourism Association Vu The Binh also supposed that Vietnam needs to prepare soon to welcome and effectively exploit Chinese market, and ensure the implementation of strict regulations on COVID-19 prevention.
Tourism Information Technology Center
