To boost cooperation and development in tourism between the two countries, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism sent a proposal to China to soon include Vietnam in the list of countries that China allows to organize outbound tours.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that with the aim of creating favorable conditions for Vietnam and China to improve and recover tourism, as well as the common perception of the two countries’ leaders, the Ministry sent a proposal to China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism “suggesting to consider and soon include Vietnam in the list of pilot countries for group tours”. China recently announced the list of 20 countries that it allowed Chinese travel agencies to organize outbound tours – not include Vietnam.
According to the Ministry, about this proposal, the delegations of the two countries had a meeting and discussed earlier at the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2023 held in Indonesia from February 2-5, 2023. Or in October 2022, the two parties also signed the “Plan for culture and tourism cooperation for the period 2023-2027”.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism emphasized that China is Vietnam’s largest inbound market with about 5.8 million arrivals in 2019 (according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism), accounting for more than 30% of international visitors to Vietnam. Vietnam is also always among the top 5 countries with most outbound travelers to China.
Explaining the reason why China has not yet resumed outbound travel to Vietnam, travel agencies said that the country still has many problems to solve such as: immigration procedures, ensuring epidemic prevention, re-issuance of expired passports, or choosing the right tour,…
According to experts, Vietnamese businesses are always willing to provide Chinese tourists with the best service and the most affordable prices, and expect to welcome Chinese tourists in the second quarter.
Vietnam has officially reopened to tourism, welcoming international tourists from March 15, 2022. In 2022, the country welcomed more than 3.66 million international visitors, and was recognized as a safe and attractive destination.
