Promoting Vietnamese Tourism and Aviation Services in Seoul

The amount of tourists from the Republic of Korea (RoK) to Vietnam has seen a marked rise since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the event. Photo: VNA

A tourism promotion exchange themed “Wonderful Vietnam” opened in Seoul, the Republic of Korea (RoK), on May 17 to discuss prospects for cooperation in aviation and tourism between Vietnam and the RoK, VOV reported.

Addressing the programme, Nguyen Huy Duc, head of the Vietnam Airlines branch in the Republic of Korea (RoK), revealed that this was the second consecutive year that the national flag carrier of Vietnam has partnered with Sun Group and a new partner, Caravelle Hotel, to organize the event in the RoK.

The programme highlighted the numerous possibilities for tourism, trade, and aviation cooperation between the two countries. Furthermore, Vietnam Airlines and its partners offered attractive destinations and incentive policies to ensure customers get the best out of their travel experience. He noted that such initiatives would go a long way in making travel more accessible and enjoyable.

In his address, Nguyen Vu Tung, Vietnam’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (RoK), highlighted that the number of tourists from the RoK to Vietnam has seen a sharp rise since the pandemic has ended.

Last year, the country welcomed an impressive 3.66 million international tourists, of which more than 965,000 were Korean visitors, accounting for a staggering 26.4% of the total. Additionally, approximately 185,000 Vietnamese travelers visited the Republic of Korea in the same period.

The burgeoning demand for travel has created numerous possibilities for bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, education, and culture, according to him. He further highlighted the significant contribution of Vietnam Airlines, Sun Group, and Caravelle hotel towards the acceleration of tourism and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

For his part, Ly Xuong Can, Vietnamese Tourism Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (RoK), said that Vietnam is quickly restoring travel and air routes to the pre-pandemic level. Additionally, travel companies have also invested in upgrading their tourism services to attract more Korean tourists.

Along with the reopening of flights between Incheon and Nha Trang at the end of last year, the promotion programme is expected to enhance Vietnam as an attractive and safe destination, he stressed.

Currently, Vietnam Airlines is operating a total of 112 flights per week between the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Vietnam, with its market share in the RoK reaching an impressive 18% in the first quarter of this year, representing a 5% increase compared to 2019.

With approximately KRW 200,000 per capita spending per credit card transaction, Vietnamese tourists were the biggest spenders among international visitors to the Republic of Korea (RoK) in 2022, according to the RoK’s credit card and financial services company BC Card, as reported by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

Data released by BC Card on May 3 revealed that the per-capita authorised card transactions of Vietnamese tourists had increased by a staggering 89% to KRW 197,000 (USD 147.21) in 2022, compared to the previous year.

Japanese tourists, who were the second-biggest spenders, made card purchases of more than 188,000 KRW, while Chinese visitors spent 171,000 KRW, those from Taiwan (China) spent 126,000 KRW, and Americans spent 109,000 KRW.

Moreover, the Republic of Korea (RoK) currently holds the highest rankings when it comes to direct investment in Vietnam, is second in regards to official development assistance (ODA), labor, and tourism, and is third in terms of trade cooperation.

Meanwhile, Vietnam is a pivotal partner of the RoK in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), comprising approximately half of the total trade revenue between the RoK and ASEAN.

A Korean culture road festival 2023 organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea (RoK) in Vietnam.

Since the re-opening of Vietnam’s borders, inbound tourism has begun to show signs of recovery, if not yet at the levels seen prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. To bolster its international profile, the country has rolled out promotional programs that have had a positive impact on perceptions of its tourism offerings worldwide.

The tourism industry in Vietnam has been steadily regaining its momentum since it opened its doors to international travelers on March 15 in 2020. Over the course of the first two months of the year, the country welcomed nearly 1.9 million foreign tourists, which is equivalent to a quarter of the yearly goal set for 2021.

Vietnam has deservedly earned several prestigious world tourism accolades over the past four years, including being named the top Asian travel destination, top heritage destination, and top culinary destination. This has enabled Vietnam to establish a strong reputation among its global friends.

The hard work of Vietnam’s tourism sector in reopening, combined with the warm welcome and hospitality of the Vietnamese people, are major advantages that will help to enhance the country’s reputation in the eyes of international travelers.