(TITC) – On 7th November 2022, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) held the 16th meeting of the Vietnam - Singapore Tourism Cooperation. This is a periodic event to promote tourism cooperation between the two countries. This year, the session focused on promoting cruise tourism and connecting destinations.
Mr. Ha Van Sieu, VNAT’s Vice Chairman and Ms. Jeannie Lim, Assistant Chief Executive (STB) cochaired the meeting. Photo TITC
Speaking at the event, Mr. Ha Van Sieu stated that it is an opportunity for both sides to meet up and exchange potentials to enhance tourism cooperation in the field of cruise tourism and joint promotional activities, aiming to promote tourist flows between the two countries post-pandemic.
He informed that Singapore is an important source market for Viet Nam. In 2019 before the pandemic, Viet Nam welcomed nearly 310 thousand Singapore visitor arrivals and nearly 600 thousand Vietnamese visited Singapore.
Due to COVID-19, the visitor exchanges between the two countries were suspended for about two years, but gradually recovered after Viet Nam and Singapore re-open international tourism earlier this year. In the first ten months of 2022, Viet Nam welcomed more than 2.3 million international visitor arrivals, among which number of visitors from Singapore rank the 6th of Vietnam major source markets, with about 109 thousand arrivals travelling to Vietnam.
Overview of meeting. Photo TITC
Presenting about Vietnam tourism recovery, Mr. Tran Phu Cuong, Director General of International Cooperation Department (under VNAT) said that Vietnam updated entry conditions same as pre-pandemic. Main tourism products included beaches, natured-based, culture, city breaks. The additional tourism products are adventure, wellness, family, luxury and golf.
Vietnam tourism will be promoted at upcoming events like WTM 2022, TRAVEX 2023, ITB Berlin 2023, Visit Vietnam Year – Binh Thuan 2023 and digital communication such as website vietnam.travel and social platforms.
Joining the meeting, Vietnamese local tourism authorities updated local offerings for cruise visitors. Singapore’s cruiselines and Viet Nam’s tourism stakeholders also introduced their itinerary, services and potential cooperation. They all hope to promote cooperation in cruise tourism, connecting destinations, increasing tourist exchange between the two countries.
Photo section. Photo TITC
As the schedule, the 17th meeting will be held in Singapore in 2024.
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