Japan attracts incentive travel from Vietnam.

Incentive travel for employees is very popular and is considered part of the welfare programs of Vietnamese businesses. This is also a way to increase the appeal of high-end Japanese tourism products.

Businesses from both countries exchanged practical solutions to improve the quality of services in the incentive tourism sector - Photo: N. BINH

On November 7th, at a workshop and discussion on Japan's tourism incentive program held in Ho Chi Minh City, Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, stated that according to statistics, the total number of visitors from Japan to Ho Chi Minh City reached over 241,000 in 2023 and 219,000 in the first eight months of 2024.

Japan has always been an important market and consistently ranks among the top 6 leading international tourist markets for Ho Chi Minh City. This increase not only reflects the city's strong appeal to Japanese tourists but also affirms the solid potential for development in the tourism cooperation between the two sides.

"Conversely, Japan is one of the top favorite destinations for Vietnamese tourists, with attractive sights, unique culture, and rich history," Ms. Hoa emphasized.

Ms. Matsumoto, chief representative of the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) in Vietnam, said that one of the characteristics of the Vietnamese market is the popularity of incentive travel for employees, considered part of corporate welfare programs.

The number of tourists from Vietnam visiting Japan in 2023 exceeded pre-COVID-19 levels, reaching approximately 570,000. Since the beginning of this year, the cumulative number of visitors from January to September has reached 479,800, and with the current growth rate, this figure is expected to surpass last year's record high.

"Currently, in the incentive tourism sector, Vietnamese tourists account for approximately 15% of the total number of visitors to Japan, making it a noteworthy form of tourism. The JNTO Vietnam office plans to focus on incentive tourism with the goal of 'increasing consumption' and 'promoting tourism to Japanese localities'," Ms. Matsumoto said.

This year's Japan Incentive Tourism Seminar and Conference attracted 24 vendors from various tourism sectors, including convention centers, hotels, and travel companies from across Japan. Thirty-one travel companies from Vietnam participated.

On November 7th, eight business meetings were held between the two countries to connect tourism markets and gain a better understanding of Japan's incentive tourism.

Representatives from the tourism sectors of both sides affirmed that they will continue to promote tourist exchanges between the two countries through festivals, cultural exchanges, and tourism promotion programs.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhat-ban-thu-hut-du-lich-khuyen-thuong-tu-viet-nam-20241107170101891.htm