As many as 28 northern and central small and medium enterprises (SMEs) attended a market survey - tour programme in Taiwan from March 10 to 14, 2014, organised by the Unesco Hanoi Travel Club in coordination with the multi-national corporation Arirang of South Korea and the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines.
The programme aimed to help businesses explore the country, people and landscapes of Taiwan in order to offer suitable tour products for Vietnamese travellers.
During the programme, the delegation visited scenic spots, museums and historical sites in Kaohsiung, Taichung and Taipei, including Fo Guang Shan, the former British Consulate, FengJia Night Market, Sun Moon Lake, Taipei 101 Tower, National Palace Museum, Lungshan Temple, and Yangmingshan National Park. The delegation also surveyed hotels, restaurants and other facilities for tours like Sunshine Hotel, Hotel National and Monarch Plaza, and worked with hotel managers on cooperation programmes, expenses, incentives and other aspects.
In Taipei, the delegation also visited and worked with Vietnam Airlines Representative Office in Taiwan. Do Khoi Nguyen, Chief Representative of Vietnam Airlines in Taipei, Taiwan, said he was delighted to welcome the biggest-ever business and news agency delegation to Taipei. He added that Vietnam Airlines Office in Taiwan had also researched Vietnam - Taiwan routes, but was not successful due to lack of close coordination from the parties concerned. The programme is only feasible when there is close cooperation between Vietnam and Taiwan. Vietnam Airlines in Taiwan will try its best to coordinate with Unesco Hanoi Travel Club, Arirang and businesses to be able successfully open tours. Currently, Vietnam Airlines in Taiwan is also working on a direct Taipei - Da Nang flight route and will discuss with the Central Office of Vietnam Airlines this cooperation.
After the survey tour, the delegation also gathered to assess survey results as well as discuss feasible tour packages for Taiwan. Nguyen Tuan Anh, Vice Chairman of Unesco Hanoi Travel Club, said the cub will deploy this tour for all more than 200 club member companies. Tour prices are estimated at about US$750, with the support from Vietnam Airlines and Arirang.
Vietnam - Taiwan tourism cooperation relations are incommensurate with their potential due to limited information and difficult visa procedures. Each year, tourists travelling between the two countries are estimated at 400,000. In 2012, the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam signed a memorandum of understanding on tourism cooperation. Accordingly, the two sides pledged to facilitate and promote tourism exchange and cooperation. Hopefully, in the near future, the tripartite tourism cooperation of Unesco Hanoi Travel Club, Vietnam Airlines and Arirang will step up to a new plane.
Thu Huyen
Vietnamese
