Vietnam-Saudi Arabia sign action program in tourism sector

Within the framework of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Saudi Arabia, the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Tourism signed the "Action Program in the tourism sector" on the afternoon of October 19.

The signing of the “Action Program in the field of tourism ” originated from an initiative of Minister Nguyen Van Hung and Minister Ahmed A. Al-Khateeb at a bilateral working session between the two Ministries at the end of August in Vietnam.

Việt Nam-Saudi Arabia ký kết chương trình hành động trong lĩnh vực du lịch

Representatives of Vietnam and Saudi Arabia at the signing ceremony of the action program in the tourism sector. (Source: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism )

With the aim of promoting tourism cooperation between the two countries in a practical, positive and effective manner commensurate with the available potential and in line with Saudi Arabia's position in the Middle East, the "Action Program in the field of tourism" proposes measures such as enhancing the exchange, sharing of information, experience, statistics on the Halal market, tourist demand, training of tourism human resources; organizing joint tourism promotion events; seeking tourism investment opportunities between the two countries.

Regarding the implementation of the newly signed Action Program, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung emphasized that Vietnam always wishes to strengthen international cooperation to build and develop a Halal tourism value chain suitable to the tastes of tourists from Muslim countries, while promoting Vietnamese tourism in Halal markets such as Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hung said: "The Ministry has proactively worked with large Vietnamese travel and tourism corporations such as Vingroup, Sungroup, Hanoi tourist, Saigon Tourist to research and plan to build tourism products targeting Saudi Arabian tourists.

Minister Nguyen Van Hung also proposed that Saudi Arabia support Vietnam in learning about tourist tastes and the Halal market, building standards and regulations on Halal tourism... through technology transfer, introducing famous Saudi Arabian brands to invest and operate in Vietnam in the fields of accommodation facilities, tourism investment...

According to him, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is ready to act as a focal point connecting Saudi Arabian investors and businesses with investment portfolios in the tourism sector in Vietnamese localities; coordinate with relevant agencies to support the organization of survey delegations for Saudi Arabian businesses and investors at a number of famous and potential tourist destinations and scenic spots in Vietnam.

Immediately after the signing ceremony, the Vietnamese delegation led by Minister Nguyen Van Hung had a bilateral working session with Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al-Saud, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia.

Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al-Saud highly appreciated the proposals of Minister Nguyen Van Hung and affirmed that Vietnam and Saudi Arabia share the same aspirations and determination to act to promote tourism cooperation between the two countries.

Saudi Arabia is currently considering issuing electronic visas to tourists from Vietnam and in the near future, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Tourism will work with domestic travel and tourism companies to research and develop product packages suitable to the tastes of Vietnamese tourists.

The princess also said that with the desire to promote tourism exchange with Vietnam through air routes in the near future, Saudi Arabia hopes to soon establish a direct flight route between the two countries.

Vietnam and Saudi Arabia signed an air transport agreement in 2019 to facilitate the establishment of air routes between and beyond the two countries.

According to Mr. Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Airlines, in the near future, Vietnam Airlines and Saudi Airlines will launch code-shared flights, thereby opening a direct route between the two countries.

Sharing at the meeting, Nguyen Thanh Hung - Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietjet Aviation Company, also said that with a market of more than 34 million people in Saudi Arabia and 100 million people in Vietnam, the potential for tourism and air transport between the two countries is huge, opening up opportunities to access both the ASEAN market and the Asian region.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Deputy Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Al-Duaile emphasized that the relationship between the two countries is increasingly developing in many areas, including investment.

Regarding visas for citizens of the two countries, Saudi Arabia has sent Vietnamese authorities a draft visa exemption agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders.

Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Duaile believes that, once signed, the agreement will create money for the two countries to consider the possibility of bilateral visa exemption for tourists from both sides.

Source