In October, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism and the Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco, California, jointly organized a series of activities to promote tourism in the United States.
The first activity was a tourism promotion program for Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City, held at the San Francisco Arts and Culture Center in California on October 13th. The promotion delegation was led by Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, and included representatives from over 11 Vietnamese airlines, travel agencies, and hotels. Nearly 100 travel businesses from California also participated in the program.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism introduced new destinations and tourism products of Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City, including products suitable for the US market, and presented tourism projects seeking investors. Businesses from both countries also met and connected directly.
Businesses met and exchanged ideas during a promotional event held in San Francisco, California. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism.
Ms. Hoa shared that the program is particularly significant as it was held right after the two countries issued a Joint Statement elevating their comprehensive strategic partnership, in which tourism is one of the 10 identified areas for promotion and cooperation. The Ho Chi Minh City tourism industry hopes this promotional activity will open up many opportunities to increase tourist traffic between the two countries in the future.
Ms. Hoa affirmed that with the new visa policy, Vietnam in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular always hope to welcome the Vietnamese community and American tourists to "experience and feel the changes" in Vietnam. Traveling to Ho Chi Minh City is now convenient as it connects to other provinces and cities, with many direct flights to countries around the world .
Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Consul General of Vietnam in San Francisco, California, expects that through this promotional program, the number of American tourists visiting Ho Chi Minh City will increase significantly because it is an attractive and dynamic destination with diverse cuisine that suits American tastes and still preserves traditional cultural and historical values.
Ms. Anne Benjaminson, Deputy Consul General of the United States in Ho Chi Minh City, said that the promotion program provides opportunities for direct connections between tourism businesses and partners of the two countries, thereby serving customers more quickly and reducing the need for intermediaries due to a lack of information in the past. It is expected that promotion activities in the US will continue for the next three years to develop a sustainable market.
The Vietnamese delegation performed traditional musical instruments during a tourism promotion program in San Francisco. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism.
Also as part of the first program in the series of activities, the Vietnamese delegation brought to California souvenirs associated with each tourist destination, performed traditional musical instruments, showcased local tea and coffee specialties, and organized an activity to paint conical hats.
Following the program in San Francisco, from October 17th to 19th, the delegation will participate in the IMEX America 2023 trade show at the Mandalay Bay resort in Las Vegas. Images of Ho Chi Minh City will be promoted at the trade show.
According to the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, Vietnam welcomed over 7.8 million international visitors in the first eight months of the year. American tourists were among the top three largest source markets for Vietnam, with nearly 503,000 visitors, after South Korea (2.2 million) and China (950,000). In 2022, before China reopened, American tourists ranked second, after South Korea.
Data from the National Tourism Administration indicates that for 10 consecutive years before the pandemic (2010-2019), the number of American tourists visiting Vietnam consistently ranked 4th or 5th among the top 10 largest source markets and continued to increase year by year.
According to the 2022 Statistical Yearbook of the General Statistics Office, in 2019, American tourists spent an average of $1,710 USD in Vietnam, ranking third after tourists from the Philippines and Belgium. American tourists also tend to stay longer and often bring family members along.
Bich Phuong
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