VNAT works with Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute
VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu had a meeting with JTTRI’s Head of Representative Office (Photo: TITC)
The Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute (JTTRI) is an independent NPO founded in 1968 as an affiliated organisation of the Ministry of Transport (MOT), currently the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). In April, 2021, the JTTRI ASEAN-India Regional Office (JTTRI-AIRO or AIRO for short) was opened in Bangkok, Thailand as the second overseas office. The main task of the Office is to research and investigate; organise seminars; dissemination and provision of government information; organise exchange activities in the fields of transport and tourism.
At the meeting, Mr. Sawada Takaaki was eager to learn about the current situation and development orientation of Vietnam tourism before and after the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr. Sawada Takaaki said, in this December, Mr. Shukuri Masafumi, Chairman of JTTRI will pay a visit to Vietnam and have a meeting with the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, as well as with VNAT to connect, cooperate with Vietnam to promote tourism of the two countries in the new normal era.
Expressing his gratitude to welcome the JTTRI’s Head of Representative Office, Mr. Ha Van Sieu, VNAT’s Vice Chairman said, the tourism industry is considered as a spearhead economic sector of theVietnam. In the period of 2015-2019, was the golden era of Vietnam tourism with robust development and growth. The growth of the number of international tourists accounted for 23%/year. In 2019, Vietnam welcomed 18 million international visitor arrivals, mostly from China, Korea and Japan; served 85 million domestic visitor arrivals; contributed 9.2% to the country's GDP. In which, Vietnam welcomed nearly 1 million Japanese visitor arrivals and nearly half million Vietnamese travelling to Japan at that point of time. In the first 10 months of 2022, Vietnam has welcomed more than 2.3 million international arrivals, including nearly 100,000 Japanese visitor arrivals and nearly 200,000 Vietnamese visitors to Japan.
JTTRI’s Head of Representative Office Sawada Takaaki gifting souvenir to VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu (Photo: TITC)
Japanese visitors to Vietnam mostly for Cultural tourism with famous destinations such as Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, Ha Long Bay and Nha Trang, etc. With similarities in culture and tourism demands, Japanese tourists when travelling to Vietnam always feel satisfied and the number of Vietnamese visitors to Japan is also increasing. The two countries have also signed many agreements and cooperation agreements on tourism, affirming the close and effective relationship.
VNAT has drawn plans and strategies for restoring and developing Vietnam's tourism in the coming years, stated VNAT’s Vice Chairman. Vietnam is planning to attract international visitors from Northeast Asia including Japan, Korea, China; potential markets such as ASEAN - India; Western European countries… Regarding the product development strategy, Vietnam attaches great importance to developing high-quality cultural and ecological tourism products, green tourism, and sports tourism such as golf tourism, especially community-based tourism associated with sustainable development.
By now, travel policies were lifted to offer the most favourable conditions and services for tourists, Mr. Ha Van Sieu hopes that other countries will strengthen bilateral cooperations, ensure benefits on visas, free movement... for tourists.
Additionally, VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu also informed about the changes on travelling demand of Vietnamese people post the Covid-19. Thereby, visitors tend to choose safe destinations; prefer products that are close to nature, environmentally friendly, take more trips but shorter days and often go in small groups. Especially, the adaptation of travel applications to be able to find out more information independently, planning itinerary, minimise unnecessary costs… is increasingly popular among visitors.
Delegates taking souvenir photo (Photo: TITC)
By far, Vietnam through the lens of international friends is an attractive and dynamic country. In 2022, Vietnam received prestigious awards in the field of tourism, including the WTA. Vietnam will surely develop tourism as a spearhead economic sector of the country and continue to affirm its reputation worldwide.
Regarding the visit of Mr. Shukuri Masafumi, Chairman of JTTRI in December 2022, VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu expressed his welcome and eagerness to continue exchanges and cooperation activities, especially on the eve of 2023, the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan.
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