"Vietnam tourism is gaining increasing interest in Australia, which has helped us bring more tourists to Vietnam in 2023 than we did before the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, Vietnam is emerging as a destination with a very diverse range of experiences. Intrepid Travel initially focused on adventure tourism in Vietnam, but we have since expanded to offer tours focusing on culture, cuisine , and more," said Darrell Wade, Chairman of Intrepid Travel, at the event.
At the seminar, delegates expressed their hope that large businesses such as Intrepid Travel, Thien Minh Group (TMG), and their partners in Vietnam would continue to cooperate extensively, bringing the exchange of tourists between Vietnam and Australia to a level commensurate with the relationship between the two countries.
Mr. Ho An Phong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, emphasized: "In 2023, Vietnam's tourism industry witnessed a recovery, welcoming 12.6 million international visitors. Although Australian tourists only accounted for 3% of this total, they represent a significant and promising source of visitors, with a tendency towards longer stays and higher spending. In just the first two months of 2024, the number of Australian visitors to Vietnam reached 25% of the total for the entire year of 2023. In the future, greater cooperation between the two sides is needed to achieve new results, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will do its utmost to ensure the development of tourism businesses in both countries."
Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski, the Australian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Vietnam, believes that tourism cooperation between Vietnam and Australia has many opportunities for development, especially after the two countries recently upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and many direct flights connect cities in both countries.
"Most recently, there has been the addition of a flight route connecting Hanoi and Melbourne, and we need even more direct flights. As more and more Vietnamese students study in Australia, their families and relatives will also come to Australia. People-to-people exchanges between the two countries are increasingly strengthened," said Sir Andrew Goledzinowski.
Australian businesses also have high expectations for Vietnam's tourism industry to continue improving service quality and maintaining affordable prices, as this is a competitive advantage that helps Vietnam attract international tourists. In addition, green tourism and sustainable development should be prioritized, as this is also a general trend in global tourism. Furthermore, Vietnam should consider waiving visa requirements for Australian tourists to increase its attractiveness, as many destinations in the region such as Thailand, Singapore, and Bali already offer visa-free entry to Australians.
Darrell Wade added: "My friends come to Melbourne and say the city is great, but everything is expensive, for example, dining at restaurants. In Vietnam, tourists have access to international standard services at much more reasonable prices. That doesn't mean Vietnam is a cheap destination, but rather it's the value and uniqueness that Vietnam can offer to tourists."
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