Promoting Vietnam’s Tourism at a Travel Show in Canada

The Vietnam exhibition booth is interesting to many international friends because of the information and vivid images about people and beautiful life. Interesting types of tourism and lively destinations are prominently introduced to help visitors better understand the enthusiasm and hospitality of Vietnamese people. Photo: VNA

The Vietnamese Embassy in Canada held a series of events in April to showcase the beauty of the country, its people, and its tourism industry at the Ottawa Travel and Vacation Show, as reported by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on Sunday.

The momentous event is among the activities to commemorate the landmark 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Canada.

It’s the first substantial event to be held in Ottawa, Canada, since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

More than 150 representatives from embassies, international travel agencies, and travel service operators attended the event, which aims to demonstrate the importance and value of tourism products and services currently, particularly following the pandemic.

Visitors to the exhibition are equipped with information on over 60 global destinations and many Canadian destinations of interest.

Vietnam and Canada are enjoying an increasingly prosperous relationship, particularly in terms of economic exchange, with a two-way trade value of CAD 11 billion (USD 8.31 billion).

Currently, both nations sustain social and economic connections through associations and organizations like the Canada-Vietnam Friendship Association and the Vietnam-Canada Business Association.

In January, the Canada-Vietnam Friendship Society (CVFS) held a virtual seminar to commemorate the 50 years of diplomatic and cooperative ties between the two nations (1973-2023). The event was attended by Canadian scholars, international friends, and Vietnamese expatriates, and provided an opportunity to reflect on the strong relationship between Canada and Vietnam.

Steve Rutchinski, a prominent member of the Canada-Vietnam Friendship Society (CVFS), recently announced their plan to host a series of virtual forums to promote the strengthening of the Vietnam-Canada relationship this year. These online events are expected to cover topics such as Vietnam’s successful poverty reduction initiatives, its social welfare programs, and its commitment to achieving justice for the 40,000 victims of Agent Orange/dioxin.

Participants seized the opportunity to deliberate on the significance of the Southeast Asian nation’s role in Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy, as well as strategies to bolster bilateral ties.

Vietnam officially welcomed the first Chinese tourists, after the country reopened international tourism activities. Vietnam’s tourism has immense potential for growth, especially in light of the recent positive developments, as reported by Lianhe Zaobao newspaper. With its rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and remarkable hospitality, the country is a highly attractive destination for travelers from around the world. Tourism in Vietnam can be a great source of economic growth and job creation, as well as a way to promote the country’s culture and identity. With the right policies in place, the Vietnamese tourism industry could see a dramatic increase in the number of visitors and the amount of money spent. The executive director of Global Economics and Markets Research at Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB), Suan Teck Kin, recently highlighted the “bright spot” for the Southeast Asian economy in 2021: the tourism sector, as well as related services such as accommodation, catering, retail, transport, and entertainment. The number of tourists to Vietnam in the first two months of 2020 was encouragingly high, indicating a favorable outlook for the tourism and service sectors in the country. The Vietnamese government is proposing to extend the validity of e-visas from the current 30 days to a 90-day period, as well as to increase the duration of temporary residence at the border gate for people entering the country under the visa exemption categories from 15 days to 45 days. It is also preparing to ease tourist entry rules to lure more foreign tourists. All these factors create a “golden opportunity” for the Vietnamese tourism industry to grow and gain an edge over its competitors, the article suggested.