Tourism Promotion in Europe

More European tourists have arrived in Vietnam since Vietnam waived visa requirements and opened direct flights to some European nations. European tourist arrivals to Vietnam rose 20 per cent over a year ago in the first 10 months of 2016. Vietnam expected a 25 per cent growth in European tourist arrivals in 2016.

 

At the working meeting with Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on October 31, 2016, Bruno Angelet, Ambassador - Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam, affirmed that Vietnam and the EU have cherished a very fine friendship and cooperation relationship in the past time. After 12 years of tourism cooperation, he appreciated the initiative and active collaboration of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) in formulation and implementation of sustainable tourism development projects in Vietnam. Many EU-funded tourism projects have been launched and produced effective results.

 

He hoped that the Vietnamese tourism sector will continue to apply, uphold and promote the results that the Environmentally and Socially Responsible Tourism (ESRT) Capacity Development Programme has achieved to contribute more to Vietnam’s tourism development. The ambassador hoped the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will continue to support the Tourism Advisory Council to make it an effective forum for entrepreneurs and authorities.

 

While appreciating Vietnam - EU fine cooperation relations, Minister Nguyen Ngoc Thien hoped the EU will provide more support for Vietnam. He noted that Vietnam has applied unilateral visa exemption for tourist from various EU countries including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy.

In addition, the national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, has opened direct flights to the UK, France and Germany and coordinated with international airline operators to interline routes to several other major cities in Europe.

 

To attract more EU tourists to Vietnam in the coming time, the Vietnamese tourism industry will have much to do, for example, launching annual tourism promotion programmes to introduce Vietnamese destinations and tourist products; expanding its attendance scale at major international tourism events in Europe; organising press trips and fam trips for foreigners to introduce Vietnamese tourism; integrating tourism introduction at political, diplomatic and economic events; advertising tourism and Vietnamese gastronomy on mass media.