VNAT Chairman Leads Delegation to Travel Symposium in Melbourne
Melbourne, The Gulf Observer: A delegation led by Nguyễn Trùng Khánh, Chairman of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), attended a travel symposium and participated in several side activities in Melbourne. This event signifies the strengthening of tourism ties between Vietnam and Australia.
Minister Counsellor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Australia, Nghiêm Xuân Hoà, highlighted the robust development of bilateral relations, especially following the establishment of the strategic comprehensive partnership in March. In a joint statement, leaders from both nations expressed their commitment to exploring opportunities to enhance tourism development.
Minister Counsellor Hoà emphasized the advantages of promoting tourism cooperation between the two countries, including the strengthening bilateral relations, a mutual interest in tourism, and collaborative efforts to boost tourism exchanges.
Chairman Khánh underscored Vietnam’s efforts to transform tourism into a key economic sector. He noted that the tourism industry has shown significant recovery and achievements over the past two years, following the COVID-19 pandemic. Vietnam’s tourism destinations have garnered prestigious international awards. Notably, in the first five months of 2024, Vietnam welcomed 213,000 Australian visitors, marking a 35 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This makes Australia the seventh-largest source of tourists to Vietnam.
Australian Senator Raff Ciccone acknowledged Vietnam as a pivotal market in Australia’s strategy to diversify its tourism markets. To better understand the Vietnamese market and cater to tourists from Southeast Asia, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) and the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) plan to launch a program titled “Việt Nam Host” in the coming months. Vietnam will be included in Australia’s list of important tourism markets alongside China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Indonesia.
Senator Ciccone hailed the Australia – Việt Nam Travel Symposium as an excellent opportunity for both sides to gain insights into each other’s markets and foster collaboration.
Following the symposium, tourism businesses and agencies from Vietnam and Australia engaged in a business meeting and participated in two relevant discussions, furthering their commitment to enhancing tourism cooperation between the two nations.
