(TITC) - On 26 June 2014, Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) coordinated with Vietnamese Embassy in Russia to hold a roadshow to promote Viet Nam tourism. The program was in the framework of Vietnamese Cultural Days in Russia.
The event had the presence of Minister of Culture, Sports & Tourism, Mr. Hoang Tuan Anh; Vietnamese Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary (AEP) to Russia, Mr. Pham Xuan Son; Director of Directorate for International Cooperation (Russian Federal Agency for Tourism), Mr. Alexeevich Korovkin; representatives of Russian authorities, Vietnam Airlines and tourism businesses of the two countries including more than 80 Russian tour operators.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, VNAT’s General Director Nguyen Van Tuan emphasized the importance of the roadshow bringing Viet Nam and Russia’s images to people of the two countries, connecting tourism enterprises of the two countries to seek business opportunities and develop new tourism products, enhancing bilateral cultural and tourism cooperation and close traditional relationship.
In recent years, Russian tourist growth has strongly increased: reaching 23,800 arrivals in 2005; 100,000 in 2011; and nearly 300,000 in 2013, up 71.1% over 2012. Viet Nam has identified Russia as one of the most important source markets in the national tourism development strategy until 2020, vision to 2030.
He also affirmed that Viet Nam is a peaceful and stable country with a developing economy in mid of the integration into international and regional development. Russian tourists have been facilitated to travel Viet Nam by increased direct flights from Russia to Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Cam Ranh and visa facilitation for Russians to Viet Nam.
In the framework of the roadshow in Moscow, tourism enterprises and travel agents of the two countries had meetings to exchange information and look for business opportunities. Besides, many Vietnamese traditional art performances were organized such as: playing flute, reappearing love market in northern mountainous region of Viet Nam, playing T’rung – a musical instrument in the Central Highland region.
From 27 to 30 June 2014, VNAT continues to hold two other roadshows in Saint Petersburg and Yaroslavl, which aims to further promote Viet Nam tourism to Russian tourists.
Thanh Tam