Vietnam attempts to attract Japanese tourists

On Mar 2nd, Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) held a seminar on attracting Japanese tourists to Viet Nam in the stage 2012-2015.
The seminar had the attendance of VNAT’s representatives, Japanese experts, and travel companies in Viet Nam receiving Japanese tourists.
Opening the seminar, Deputy Director General of VNAT, Mrs. Hoang Thi Diep said Japan is one of leading markets sending tourists to Viet Nam. By 2015, Viet Nam aims to attract 7.5 million international arrivals including 1 million Japanese arrivals.
At the seminar, VNAT’s representative presented the research on Japanese market; characteristics and current demands of Japanese who are attracted by beautiful landscapes, historic relics, special foods and shopping centres as well as local people’s hospitability. During the last 10 years, the number of Japanese tourists visiting Viet Nam has increased stably except for 2003 and 2008-2009 when SARS epidemic disease and global economic recession occurred respectively.
With huge advantages such as good security and politic stability, visa exemption for 15 days, direct flights, cultural similarities, good relationship and rich tourism resources, Viet Nam has potentials to attract a large number of Japanese tourists in the future.
However, Viet Nam tourism still faces challenges such as shortage of promotion funding, lack of marketing strategies for Japan market and low quality of products, environment and hygiene…
Towards the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relationship establishment between Vietnam and Japan in 2013 and aiming to welcome 1 million Japanese arrivals in 2015, this is the best time to put high efforts to establish Viet Nam’s tourism promotion office in Japan which is considered one of the most important tourist markets sending tourist to Viet Nam.
In addition, there are also some significant solutions proposed at the seminar such as developing a website in Japanese to promote Viet Nam tourism; establishing a working group for Viet Nam- Japan tourism development; maintaining and expanding direct flights between the two countries; training Japanese speaking guides and tourism human resources to improve the service quality...
 
 By Thanh Pham (TITC)