Promoting Vietnam - Singapore Tourism Cooperation

With the unique culture, romantic natural scenery and reasonable travel costs, Vietnam has become one of the most attractive destinations in the list of tourist destinations of Singaporean visitors. Singapore is one of the important tourist markets of Vietnam. In recent years, the number of Singaporean tourists to Vietnam remains stable. In 2013, Vietnam welcomed nearly 200,000 Singaporean tourists, ranked No. 11 in Vietnam’s largest tourism markets. Singapore is also the second largest investor in Vietnam with 27 tourism projects with the registered capital of more than US$1.7 billion. Tourism cooperation activities have been developing, particularly in the field of ship travel.

 

Recently, Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism industry has also participated in Singapore Yacht Show 2014 to promote waterway tourism – tourism type which is being invested by the city and expected to become a major tourist product. In addition to the introduction of products, city’s waterway tourism potentials, Vietnam has surveyed waterway tourism products and infrastructure system such as ships and ports in Singapore. This is a good opportunity for business and tourism promotion agencies of Vietnam to establish relationships with partners as well as introduce Ho Chi Minh City’s waterway tourism.

 

In addition, in Vietnam Investment Promotion Forum recently held in Singapore, the Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh urged Singapore to support Vietnam in the construction of Phu Quoc Island of Kien Giang Province becoming a high-end tourist centre, science and technology centre of the country and Southeast Asia. Vietnam will create the best conditions for Singapore enterprises to cooperate and invest in Vietnam for a long term.

 

Besides, Singapore is also a favourite destination of Vietnamese tourists. Singapore is well known as the most beautiful - green – clean country worldwide with unique and diverse food, friendly people. The number of Vietnamese tourists to Singapore has gradually increased and reached the highest growth rate. Some local attractions in Singapore are Merlion Park; Botanic Garden; Chinatown; Sentosa Island and National Zoo Singapore.

 

Recently, Singapore has promoted the sea tourism cooperation with Vietnam. The Singapore Tourism Board has taken survey missions to waterway tourism destinations in three central provinces of Vietnam, namely Thua Thien - Hue, Da Nang and Quang Nam to support Vietnam in building ports to welcome waterway tourists as well as in finding opportunities to invest in waterway tourism and other types of tourism in these localities.

 

Medical tourism is a new type of tourism, having potentials to become incredibly popular in the world. Singapore is the country having the best health care system worldwide with professional doctors, modern and advanced equipment. This is also a great choice for Vietnamese tourists if they want to combine travelling with treatment. The Singapore Tourism Board has advocated a combination of medical service providers and travel companies to offer health care travel package to attract tourists. This is one of the areas that Vietnam needs to strengthen cooperation.

 

During his official visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong, on Sep 11-13, 2013, at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, two sides issued a joint statement on establishing Vietnam - Singapore strategic partnership. Boosting tourism cooperation is one of important contents of the strategic partnership between the two countries: tourism infrastructure development cooperation (investing in entertainment parks); enhancing tourism cooperation between the two countries and with other countries in the region; further promoting cooperation in tourism promotion activities and information exchange through Vietnam - Singapore tourism cooperation mechanism (SVTC).