Australia shows potential as a key contributor to tourist numbers, and industry insiders are optimistic that the government will soon consider visa waivers for Australian tourists. This aligns with Vietnam’s efforts to enhance its competitiveness in attracting visitors compared to neighbouring countries.
Australia is always in the top 10 markets sending the largest visitors to Vietnam. In 2023, Australia is the 9th market sending tourists to Vietnam, and in the first two months of the year, Australia ranked in the top 6.
Australia is a promising inbound tourism market for Vietnam as the number of Australian tourists in the first two months of this year reached 97,500, equivalent to 25% of last year’s figure.
Ho An Phong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism
President of adventure tourism group Intrepid Travel Australia, Darrell Wade, also said that Vietnamese tourism is increasingly of interest to Australians. “That helps the number of visitors we bring to Vietnam in 2023 exceed that of 2019,” Mr. Wade said. In addition to natural beauty, Vietnam is emerging as a diverse destination for Australian tourists, motivating Intrepid to research and develop more tours about Vietnamese culture and cuisine in addition to its strengths in adventure tourism. dangerous.
Vietnam is also forecast to be a favourite destination for Australians in 2024. The number of Australian tourists travelling internationally has not returned to pre-epidemic levels, 14% lower than in 2019. However, the number of Australian visitors to Vietnam In 2023, it will reach 390.000 visits, exceeding 383.000 visits in 2019.
Australia’s ambassador to Vietnam, Andrew Goledzinowski, said the launch of more flights between the two countries makes it convenient for Australian tourists to come to Vietnam with cheap airfares. Last week low-cost carrier Vietjet Air announced the launch of a new service between Hanoi and Melbourne.
According to a report by the online travel platform Skyscanner last year, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) emerged as one of the top 10 sought-after destinations for Australian tourists. Searches for HCMC increased by nearly 2.5 times compared to 2022, indicating a significant surge in interest among Australian travellers keen to explore the vibrant culture and dynamic atmosphere of this bustling Vietnamese city.
Highlighting the significance of improving service quality and sustaining competitive pricing to attract international visitors, Australian tourism businesses are optimistic about the growth of Vietnam’s tourism industry. Green tourism and sustainable development need to be prioritised, which is also the general trend of world tourism. Businesses also want Vietnam to consider visa exemption for Australian visitors to increase attraction and competition.
Australian visitors have many of the same advantages as European guests, such as staying long and spending more. Mr. Nguyen Tien Dat, CEO of AZA Travel, highlighted that Australian tourists maintain a strong preference for coastal and island destinations, and Vietnam’s extensive coastline, characterised by blue sea and stunning white sands ideal for swimming, presents a significant advantage in attracting them.
Australian Hospitality Alumni Network Vietnam 