Australian tourism agencies, tour operators and airlines seek enhanced cooperation with Vietnam Tourism

On the sidelines of the Vietnam – Australia Tourism Conference in City. Melboure, Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration Nguyen Trung Khanh had bilateral meetings on tourism cooperation with tourism management agencies and Australian tourism organizations and businesses.

During the discussion between Tourism Australia, Tourism Victoria, Queensland Tourism and Events, and representatives of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration,  two sides reached an agreement to promote cooperation in tourism development and increase tourist exchange. One potential plan is to organize the Vietnam – Australia Tourism Conference in 2025. This is a perfect opportunity for the two sides to share their country’s tourism management experiences to support tourism development and attract potential tourism products.

In addition, Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh (Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration) said that at the above meeting, Vietnam proposed to consider easing visa procedures and reducing visa approval time for Vietnamese tourists to encourage more travel to Australia, at the same time, jointly support bilateral organizations to organize many tourism promotion activities. 

He shared “Expected in September 2024, Vietnam will organize a program to promote Vietnamese tourism in Australia. We hope to receive support from Australian tourism management agencies so that the event can be held successfully, thereby promoting tourism development and enhancing two-way tourist exchange.”

Specifically, in September 2024, Vietnam will have a tourism promotion program in Australia. Mr. Andrew Hogg – Senior Executive Director of Eastern Market and Aviation of the Australian National Tourism Authority, said that every year, Vietnam has always been an important market that Australia puts effort into and with upcoming activities, they are willing to assist.

Some other activities in the Australian tourism market include the presence of consulting companies such as Australian Attraction and Discova.

Australian Attractions, a prestigious partner of the Australian National Tourism Agency, is implementing many practical activities to enhance cooperation and connection between Vietnam and Australia tourism. In September 2024, the country will welcome a delegation of Australian tourism officials to visit. At the same time, closely coordinate with the Vietnam National Tourism Administration to lay a strong foundation for the tourism businesses of the two countries, creating conditions for development cooperation. In 2025, the company will also organizes a famtrip program specifically for Australian businesses to explore Vietnam tourism, promising to promote Australian tourists to Vietnam in the future.

Discova, the leading travel company with the second-largest Vietnamese market, is making efforts to promote two-way tourism between Vietnam and Australia. Their extensive network (Discova owns 3 offices in Vietnam) affirms their long-term commitment and strong investment in this market. In the future, Discova hopes to connect with Vietnamese tourism businesses, to expand the market and promote Vietnamese tourists to Australia and Australian tourists to Vietnam.

Tourism in the two countries is developing strongly. In 2023, Vietnam welcomed 390 thousand Australian tourists, exceeding the level before the 2019 pandemic and putting Australia in the top 10 markets of Vietnam. Continuing the growth momentum, the first 5 months of 2024 recorded 213 thousand Australian visitors to Vietnam, an increase of 35% over the same period last year, bringing Australia to the 7th largest source market for Vietnam. The two sides agreed to seek opportunities to increase travel and tourism between the two countries, contributing to strengthening the strategic partnership and bringing benefits to both countries.

This is a golden time to promote tourism cooperation between Vietnam and Australia, exploit the great potential, and bring the tourism industries of the two countries to sustainable development.