Vietnam and South Korea have a long-lasting friendly relationship. The number of South Korean tourists to Vietnam comes second after just China but the outcome still mismatches available the potential.
Mr Lim Hyung Taek, Head of the Korea National Tourism Organisation in Hanoi, talks with Vietnam Business Forum about South Korea’s experience in tourism development and his recommendations for Vietnam. Thu Huyen reports.
What is your opinion about tourism cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea?
At present, as many as 500,000 South Korean tourists visit Vietnam each year, ranking second to only China. Most South Koreans go to Vietnam by air and a very small number go by sea. Some 100,000 Vietnamese tourists visit South Korea every year. With 88 direct flights between the two countries a week, mutual tourism relations are relatively developed.
How will South Korea support Vietnamese tourism companies to explore business opportunities?
South Korea will provide enough tourism information for Vietnamese businesses. Besides, the country will promote tourism marketing and promotion programmes in Vietnam. In addition, we will organise field trips in South Korea for Vietnamese travel companies and journalists.
What should Vietnamese tourism industry do to boost up cooperation with South Korea?
I came to Vietnam just six months ago but as far as I am concerned, Vietnam, with its landscape and cultural identities, need to develop more resorts for more tourist classes.
However, Vietnam is weak at tourism services. To attract more tourists, it must improve the quality of tourism services, the attitude of tourist workers, and voluntary activities.
In addition, Vietnam needs to accelerate infrastructure development like building roads to facilitate travelling and increase flights to Da Nang and Nha Trang to meet the demand of South Koreans.
Vietnamese
