Vietnam and Russia held their first joint tourism working group meeting, focusing on enhancing cooperation and boosting mutual tourist flows.
On 22nd August 2024, Mr. Ho An Phong, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) of Vietnam and Mr. Dmitry Vakhrukov, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, co-chaired the 1st online Meeting of the Russian – Vietnamese Working Group on Tourism.
Giving his welcoming speech, Mr. Dmitry Vakhrukov, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation said, the two countries need to continue to promote the expansion of tourism cooperation, helping businesses operating in the tourism sector of the two countries seek cooperation opportunities and product development.
The number of tourists between the two countries has grown steadily. In particular, the number of visitors exchanged between the two countries in the first period of this year has increased sharply. Mr. Dmitry Vakhrukov also affirmed that the potential for tourism development cooperation between Vietnam and Russia is huge.
Mr. Dmitry Vakhrukov added, that to attract tourists, Vietnam and Russia need to increase the number of direct flights connecting the two countries and enhance the exchange of tourism information. The Russian Federation has now eased visa procedures for entry and stay. Citizens of 55 countries, including Vietnam, can now apply for an electronic visa to enter Russia. According to statistics, 2,500 Vietnamese citizens have applied for electronic visas to Russia. Mr. Dmitry Vakhrukov hopes that the two countries will continue to remove obstacles and propose more solutions to develop air routes, accommodation services, hotels, tourism products, etc.
Mr. Dmitry Vakhrukov, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation speaking at the Meeting (Photo: TITC)
MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ho An Phong stated in his opening remark that, since Vietnam and the Russian Federation established diplomatic relations in 1950, Russia has become a comprehensive strategic partner of Vietnam since 2012. Along with the development of friendly relations, culture, sports and tourism cooperation between the two countries is increasingly close, effective and has made remarkable progress, people-to-people exchange is increasingly strengthened.
MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ho An Phong speaking at the Meeting (Photo: TITC)
Especially after President Vladimir Putin‘s state visit to Vietnam on 20th June 2024, the visit to the Russian Federation by Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung in early July 2024, the cooperation between the two countries, especially in the fields of culture, sports and tourism, is increasingly valued and enhanced.
Russia is the largest country in the world with many famous landscapes and tourist attractions in terms of architecture, history and culture. Vietnam has a rich history, traditions, diverse and unique natural and cultural resources with 33 natural and cultural heritage properties recognized by UNESCO; Vietnamese people are warm and extremely hospitable, always welcoming international friends, including Russian tourists.
MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ho An Phong believes that, with the available potential and advantages for tourism development, the two countries will increase the exchange of visitors, create favourable conditions for tourists to travel, promote cooperation between tourism and aviation businesses, etc., commensurate with the long-standing traditional relationship that has been built and nurtured by the leaders and people of the two countries over the years.
VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu speaking at the Meeting (Photo: TITC)
Introducing to Vietnam tourism situation, Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Vice Chairman of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) said, tourism is making great efforts “to become a spearhead economic sector, creating momentum to promote the development of other sectors and fields” and especially promoting the role of foreign affairs activities, “strengthening international cooperation in tourism”. In 2023, Vietnam tourism recovered strongly, welcoming 12.6 million international visitor arrivals, a 70% recovery compared to 2019. In the first seven months of 2024, Vietnam welcomed 10 million international visitor arrivals, up 51% over the same period in 2023 and up 1.9% over the same period in 2019. Of which, the number of Russian visitors to Vietnam reached 122,814 arrivals, nearly double compared to the same period last year.
Vietnam focuses on developing tourist market segments and specialised products in which Vietnam has strengths such as MICE tourism, golf tourism, community based tourism, rural tourism, culinary tourism, wellness tourism, and promoting tourism by rail. Thereby improving competitiveness, attracting domestic and foreign visitors, and retaining visitors for longer stays. Promote linkages and cooperation between destinations, tourism businesses and airlines to harness tourism products and services with potential and competitive advantages. Focus on improving the quality of technical facilities and tourism services, ensuring safety and security; strengthening digital transformation, developing shared digital platforms in the tourism industry; building a smart tourism ecosystem associated with digital transformation and green transformation; promoting administrative procedure reform in tourism; strengthening tourism statistics; developing tourism human resources.
VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu declared, in recent times, Vietnam and Russia have had many advantages in promoting tourism cooperation based on signed cooperation documents. In the coming time, the two sides need to support each other in participating in and organising tourism promotion activities and events in the two countries such as Fairs of VITM Ha Noi and ITE-HCMC in Vietnam, MITT Fair and OTDYKH Leisure Fair… in Russia; organise Fam trips and Press trips; increase exchanges and share information on tourism and aviation promotion, operate direct flights, etc.
At the Meeting, Mr. Igor Bayazov, Head of Vietnam Division, Ministry of Foreign of the Russian Federation also introduced the potentials, advantages, and results of cooperation in the tourism sector between the two countries in recent times; as well as propose some cooperation contents in the coming time. Delegates at the Meeting discussed facilitating travel for tourists; solutions to promote delegation exchanges, participation in tourism events, promotion.
Also at the Meeting, leaders of the two sides agreed on the Terms of Reference of the Russian – Vietnamese Working Group on Tourism.
Accordingly, the objectives of the Working Group are to promote mutual tourism, including holding familiarisation trips to Russia and Vietnam; to contribute to the increase in number of mutual tourist flows; to exchange the statistics, best practices and other relevant information about the policies, news, development of tourism sector in Russia and Vietnam; to support the development of joint tourism projects. The Working Group will facilitate cooperation between the Russian and Vietnamese tour operators and agencies in order to create new tourism products and promote an active participation of representatives of the tourism industry of Russia and Vietnam in international tourism exhibitions, fora, seminars and other tourism events in both countries.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
