The number of RoK tourists to Vietnam has been increasing significantly in the post-pandemic period

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 Vietnam Airlines branch in the RoK, revealed that this was the second year that the national flag carrier of Vietnam has cooperated with Sun Group and a new partner Caravelle hotel to organise the event in the RoK.

The programme introduced the potential for tourism, trade, and aviation cooperation between the two countries, along with attractive destinations and incentive policies put forward by Vietnam Airlines and its partners in order to provide customers with the most optimal travel experience options possible, he said.

In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Nguyen Vu Tung emphasised that the number of RoK tourists to Vietnam has been increasing significantly in the post-pandemic period.

Last year witnessed the country receive over 3.66 million international tourists, with Korean tourists numbering more than 965,000, or 26.4% of the total. Meanwhile, about 185,000 Vietnamese people visited the RoK last year.

The burgeoning demand for travel has opened up plenty of opportunities for bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, education, and culture, he said, noting that Vietnam Airlines, Sun Group, and Caravelle hotel have played a key role in accelerating tourism and people-to-people exchanges between the two sides.

For his part, Ly Xuong Can, Vietnamese tourism ambassador to the RoK, said that Vietnam is rapidly restoring travel and air routes to the pre-pandemic level, while travel firms have also invested in upgrading 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 elevate Vietnam as an attractive and safe destination, he stressed.

Currently, Vietnam Airlines is operating 112 flights per week between the RoK and Vietnam, with its market share in the RoK reaching 18% in the first quarter of this year, up 5% compared to 2019.

With nearly KRW 200,000 in each per-capita card transaction, Vietnamese tourists spent the most among international visitors to the RoK in 2022, VNA citied the RoK’s credit card and financial service company BC Card.

Data released by BC Card on May 3 showed that Vietnamese tourists’ per-capita authorised card transactions stood at KRW 197,000 (USD 147.21) each in 2022, 89% more than what they spent in the previous year.

This was higher than 188,000 KRW in card purchases by the second-biggest spender Japanese tourists, KRW 171,000 by Chinese visitors, KRW 126,000 by those from Taiwan (China), and KRW 109,000 by Americans.

Moreover, the RoK now ranks first in terms of direct investment in Vietnam, second in official development assistance (ODA), labour and tourism, and third in trade cooperation.

Meanwhile, Vietnam is a big partner of the RoK in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), accounting for 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.

Though it is yet to return to levels prior to Covid-19, Vietnam’s inbound tourism has shown signs of recovery in the year since re-opening. Promotional programs to introduce Vietnam’s tourism offerings abroad have helped increase its profile and left a good impression worldwide.

Vietnam’s tourism industry has gradually recovered since fully opening to international visitors on March 15 last year. The number of foreign tourists reached nearly 1.9 million in the first two months of the year, equal to a quarter of the target set for last year.

Vietnam has won several world tourism titles, such as Asian travel destination for four consecutive years, top heritage destination, and top culinary destination, which have helped spread its image among international friends.

The efforts of Vietnam’s tourism industry to reopen, together with the friendliness and hospitality of Vietnamese people, are advantages boosting its position in the eyes of international visitors.

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