(TITC) – Within the framework of the Vietnam Tourism and Cultural Promotion Festival in Korea, on 1st July 2024, in Seoul (Korea), Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam coordinated with related units to organize Forum on Vietnam - Korea Tourism Promotion and Cultural Cooperation. The event was honored with the presence of Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended Forum on Vietnam - Korea Tourism Promotion and Cultural Cooperation. Photo: VGP
Cooperation in tourism and culture - a highlight in Vietnam and Korea relations
Speaking at the forum, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam Nguyen Van Hung said that along with the development of friendly relations and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, the Vietnam and Korea cooperation on culture, sports, and tourism are developing rapidly.
Many cooperation activities to develop cultural industries, sports training, and tourism promotion within bilateral and multilateral frameworks have been implemented effectively. The Memorandum of Cooperation 2023 - 2025 was highly agreed upon by the two Ministries and signed in December 2022, thereby achieving many positive results.
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam Nguyen Van Hung. Photo: VGP
Every year, exchange activities have been held such as "Vietnam Culture - Tourism Week in Korea", "Vietnam - Korea Culture and Cuisine Festival", "Korean Days in Vietnam"..., attracting the participation of the business community and the response of a large number of people of the two countries. The "Korean Wave" with music shows, movies, television, fashion, cuisine... is extremely popular in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Vietnamese culture such as the Ao Dai Festival - Vietnamese Charm, puppet show, and traditional musical instrument performances are also known and loved in Korea.
In 2023, the total two-way visitor exchange reached 4 million arrivals, recovering 83% compared to before the pandemic. In the first 6 months of 2024, Vietnam welcomed nearly 2.3 million Korean visitor arrivals, an increase of 42.4% over the same period in 2023.
Along with that, cooperation in training, coaching, exchanging delegations, and providing scholarships for athletes also achieved many results, notably the contribution of Mr. Park Hang Seo - during his time as Head coach of the Vietnam men's national football team.
From the orientation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the two ministries and business communities of the two countries will join hands to create cultural industry products in which Vietnam has advantages such as cinema, art performing, tourism…
Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea - Jang Mi Ran. Photo: VGP
Welcoming the delegates to the Forum in Korea, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea - Jang Mi Ran said that after Vietnam - Korea relations were upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership, exchange activities between the two countries have been becoming more and more exciting. In June 2023, Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol paid an official state visit to Vietnam, and the two sides discussed to strengthen cultural exchange cooperation.
Tourism cooperation has developed very strongly. In 2023, there were 3.6 million Korean visitor arrivals to Vietnam, 420,000 Vietnamese visitor arrivals to Korea, the highest among Southeast Asian tourists to Korea. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries quickly restored connectivity and are preparing for new great strides.
Raising tourism and cultural cooperation to new heights, commensurate with the comprehensive strategic partnership
Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that, in the context of the current world situation, sustainable, inclusive development and green growth have become more urgent than ever for all countries. In particular, culture emerged as a driving force of sustainable development, thereby helping global tourism grow again at a faster rate than forecast.
According to the Prime Minister, two Asian countries with many similarities in culture and history, cooperation in tourism and culture is a highlight in the Vietnam - Korea relationship. Korea is the one of the largest source markets of Vietnam tourism. The two sides continue to open new routes and launch new, attractive and unique products; organizing many cultural festivals, art shows and tourism promotion campaigns...
Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Photo: VGP
The Prime Minister said that Vietnam focuses on developing comprehensive, fast and sustainable tourism with the motto "Close connection - Smooth coordination - Extensive cooperation - Comprehensive coverage - Sustainable effectiveness"; developing a sustainable tourism ecosystem, forming a value chain, linking national and global tourism.
The leader stressed that from 15 August 2023, Vietnam has extended the stay duration for Korean tourists from 15 days to 45 days, and e-visa is valid for up to 90 days.
The Prime Minister hopes that the two sides will work together to come up with specific and practical cooperation programs and projects, bringing Vietnamese and Korean tourism to a new level, matching the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, striving to soon reach 5.5 million visitor arrivals exchange.
The Prime Minister proposed the Korean side to support Vietnam in developing tourism and cultural industry, especially in perfecting institutions, mechanisms, policies, building infrastructure, training human resources, and improving management capacity, mobilization of resources and financial resources.
The Prime Minister requested Korea to support for the establishment of the Vietnamese Cultural Center in Korea. Korean businesses continue to promote investment in the fields of tourism, cultural industry, and entertainment in Vietnam.
The Prime Minister also required Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam to soon submit to the Prime Minister to promulgate the Strategy for developing Vietnam's cultural industries to 2030, vision to 2045, and at the same time promote the implementation of the Strategy of developing Vietnamese tourism until 2030.
Vice Chairman of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism Ha Van Sieu at the forum. Photo: VGP
At the Forum, delegates listened to presentations discussing strengthening tourism and cultural cooperation such as: Project on Research cooperation, information and infrastructure connection to promote political expansion of tax refund for foreign tourists (Tax Refund Project); “Vietnamese Village Project” in Bonghwa District, North Gyeongsang Province; "Project to find and train global Vietnamese music stars"; Cinema Support Fund…
The ceremony of awarding MoU on on culture, trade and tourism cooperation between the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organisation. Photo: VGP
On this occasion, PM Pham Minh Chinh witnessed the exchange of 10 memoranda of understanding on culture, trade and tourism cooperation between agencies and businesses of the two countries, including one between the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organisation.
