(TITC) - On 12th August, in Ha Noi, Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Chairman of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) had a meeting with Ms. Matsumoto Fumi, Executive Director at Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Vietnam Office on the occasion of her new position in Vietnam.

Attending the meeting were Mr. Yoshida Kenji, JNTO Vietnam’s Executive Director for the term 2021 - 2023 and representative office staff; on the side of VNAT, there are leaders of divisions and affiliated functional units.

Overview of the meeting (Photo: TITC)

VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh welcomes Ms. Matsumoto Fumi to Vietnam to assume the position of Executive Director of JNTO for the 2024-2027 term. At the same time, he congratulated Mr. Yoshida Kenji on his excellent completion of his last term and highly appreciated his efforts in cooperating to support Vietnam tourism and promoting two-way tourist exchange activities.

VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh stressed, Japan is a traditional key market of Vietnam, with diverse visitors, average stay (about 6.2 days) and quite high spending compared to the general level of Asian visitors.

Regarding the exchange of visitors, Japanese visitors to Vietnam in the first 7 months of 2024 reached 380 thousand arrivals, an increase of 34% over the same period in 2023; on the other hand, the number of Vietnamese visitors to Japan in the first 5 months of the year reached 284 thousand, an increase of 9% over the same period last year. The Japanese government has also made innovations in tourism policies, creating conditions for Vietnamese tourists to explore  Japan. Flights connecting some major cities of the two countries also increased significantly.

JNTO and VNAT have recently cooperated closely, the two sides have carried out many mutual support activities. VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh said, VNAT is building a project to establish a number of Vietnam tourism promotion offices abroad to submit to competent authorities.

VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh gifting souvenir to Ms. Matsumoto Fumi, Executive Director of JNTO Vietnam (Photo: TITC)

VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh hopes that, during Ms. Matsumoto Fumi's tenure, the JNTO Office in Vietnam will continue to promote close relations between VNAT and JNTO and Japan Tourism Agency (JTA), increasing two-way tourist exchange. At the same time, VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh suggested that JNTO Vietnam continues to perform the responsibilities of a representative office as stipulated in the Decision on establishing the office and in accordance with the laws of Vietnam; regularly exchange information with the VNAT on the office's activities. For conference and seminar organisation activities, VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh enquired JNTO to send a written notice and request for an organisation licence to VNAT 02 months before the event takes place and notice VNAT about the 10th Meeting of the Vietnam-Japan Tourism Cooperation Committee scheduled in Japan.

VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh gifting souvenir to Mr. Yoshida Kenji, Executive Director for the term 2021 - 2023 of JNTO Vietnam (Photo: TITC)

VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh hopes that JNTO will invite Japanese enterprises to attend international tourism expos in Vietnam such as Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM Ha Noi) and International Travel Expo-Ho Chi Minh City (ITE-HCMC). VNAT will also invite Vietnamese tourism businesses to attend international events, fairs and seminars organised by Japan in the coming time. The two sides will also coordinate to organise seminars, professional conferences, and workshops to promote tourism through the strengths of the two countries such as cuisine, ecological nature, leisure, culture, etc.

Ms. Matsumoto Fumi affirmed that in the past, JNTO Vietnam has received positive support from VNAT and during its operations. She hopes that VNAT will support and provide timely advice on laws and regulations to JNTO.

Delegates taking souvenir photo (Photo: TITC)

Regarding the project to establish a tourism promotion office abroad of VNAT, Ms. Matsumoto Fumi affirmed that JNTO will provide full support. After completing his term and returning to the headquarters in Japan, Mr. Yoshida Kenji will be the bridge and coordinate in providing information to VNAT.

Regarding the Meeting of the Vietnam-Japan Tourism Cooperation Committee, she said this is a regular activity, the 10th Meeting will take place in Japan. JNTO will discuss with JTA and notify VNAT at the earliest stage.

In the coming time, JNTO will also attract Japanese businesses to attend international events and expos in Vietnam. Ms. Matsumoto Fumi expressed her support for the idea of ​​the two sides jointly organising conferences and professional seminars to promote tourism between the two countries.