(TITC) – On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea, on December 16, 2022, in Ha Noi, Korea Tourism Organization and Vietnam National Administrations of Tourism organized the MOU signing ceremony on tourism cooperation period of 2023 - 2024.
Two leaders signed MOU on tourism cooperation. Photo TITC
The new MOU period 2023-2024 aims to strengthen bilateral tourism cooperation and tourist exchange, basing the result of MOU signed in 2017, creating a basis for the implementation of bilateral cooperation activities between the two NTOs in the coming time.
Accordingly, the two parties agreed to: (1) Regularly exchange experiences in tourism development, update management documents, tourism policies and other relevant documents to support the common development of the tourism industry; (2) Enhance the tourist experience, promote two-way visitor exchange, provide information on tourist products and destinations, improve tour guide services; (3) Stakeholders mutually support each other in events, tourism promotion programs of the two countries; 4) Support each other in digital transformation in the tourism sector, creating conditions for enterprises to apply technology and innovate; (5) Encourage cooperation between experts and businesses in the field of smart tourism, promotion and apply digital technology in tourism development, facilitate tourism activities by connecting the Smart Travel Card system of the two parties.
MOU signing ceremony. Photo TITC
The signed MOU contributes to creating a legal corridor and necessary conditions for the implementation of specific cooperation activities, promotion, exchange of information on tourism development, digital transformation between two countries.
The two parties also agreed to complete the goal of recovering two-way tourist arrivals and reaching 7 million arrivals by the end of 2024.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh affirmed that Vietnam and South Korea are important tourism market for each other. Before the pandemic, Korea was Vietnam's second largest tourist market and led in terms of visitor growth.
At the end of 2016, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Korea (1992 - 2017), the two NTOs signed a MOU on promoting cooperation activities in tourism; committed to strengthen promoting and supporting each other to improve the quality of tourism products, services and environment. This is considered a lever for effective two-way exchange of visitors and cooperative activities of the two sides.
The two countries have organized many events attracting public attention such as Korea Week in Vietnam, Vietnam Culture and Tourism Festival in Korea, tourism roadshows in major cities of both sides... The two NTOs also regularly present and invite localities, businesses to participate in booths at major international fairs such as VITM and ITE HCMC in Vietnam, KOTFA and Hanatour in Korea.
Vietnam and Korea delegation at MOU signing ceremony. Photo TITC
After fully reopening in March 2022, Vietnam quickly planned and organized a number of major promotional events in Korea such as the Vietnam Culture and Tourism Festival in Seoul and Gwangju, Vietnam Tourism Roadshow in Seoul; attended the World Tourism Industry Conference within the framework of KOTFA Fair in Seoul and Ulsan; supported the signing of MOU between NAPAS and BC Card.
VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh affirmed that the signing of MOU on the tourism promotion by the President of KTO Kim Jang-sil was a right and timely decision. This is a golden time to promote cooperation activities in tourism.
President of KTO Kim Jang-sil said that after establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and South Korea, the two countries have promoted strong cooperation in politics, economy, culture, and have achieved many achievements. In particular, the tourism industry is one of the fields with the strongest exchanges.
Two leaders exchange gift. Photo TITC
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, every year, the exchange and cooperation between the two countries grew. In 2019, there were more than 500,000 Vietnamese visitor arrivals to Korea and about 4,200,000 Korean visitor arrivals to Vietnam. This figure proves the very active tourism exchange between the two countries.
After the signing ceremony, the two parties will continue to work closely to promote tourism by encouraging travel companies to use information platforms in the two countries' markets.
Two leaders exchange gift. Photo TITC
Taking the 30-year history of tourism exchange cooperation as the foundation, through joint cooperation and diverse exchange activities between the two parties, KTO will try its best to contribute to the development of the prosperity and common development of a new Asian era. President Kim Jang-sil hopes that the two NTOs will support, accompany and support each other on the path of bilateral tourism promotion and development.
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