Vietnam is one of the leading tourism source markets for Japan, Masaki Oita, executive director of the Japan National Tourism Organization, said at a program to promote Vietnamese tourism in Tokyo on Wednesday.

The event marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Japan and was aimed at introducing Vietnam to Japanese tourists as a safe destination.

The tourism promotion program, co-organized by Vietnamese tour operator Saigontourist Group, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, and Japan’s All Nipppon Airway (ANA), drew participation from over 100 Japanese enterprises, associations, and reporters.

According to Oita, the number of Vietnamese travelers making their way to Japan rebounded strongly in the first half of 2023, equivalent to pre-pandemic figures.

However, Oita also noted that Japanese tourist arrivals in Vietnam remained modest as Japanese visitors are still hesitant about post-pandemic overseas travel.

Meanwhile, representatives from Japanese airlines, tour operators, and accommodation service providers such as ANA, JTB, and APEX said that Japanese visitors are showing interest in golf tours, leisure travel, and beauty tours in Vietnam.

Vietnam was selected and introduced as one of 24 safe and charming destinations by the Japanese government, according to information unveiled at a press briefing held by the Japan Tourism Agency and the Japan Association of Travel Agents in May.

On behalf of Vietnamese travel firms, Pham Huy Binh, chairman of Saigontourist Group, affirmed that Japan is among the key markets for Vietnam’s tourism sector and is one of five significant international markets for the group.

Before the pandemic, Saigontourist Group served over 200,000 Japanese travelers in Vietnam each year. Meanwhile, its subsidiary Saigontourist Travel Service Company brought tens of thousands of Vietnamese visitors to Japan every year.

“Co-organizing the tourism promotion program in Tokyo was part of Saigontourist Group’s strategy to spur tourism, expand sources of foreign holidaymakers, and seize cooperative opportunities in Japan after the pandemic,” Binh said.

At the event, a Vietnam Airlines representative pledged to reopen the remaining air routes linking Vietnam and Japan, and increase flight frequency to boost two-way trade and tourism growth.

“The program gave a chance to Vietnamese travel firms and air carriers to work with Japanese partners to seek cooperation solutions to effectively tap the tourism sector,” according to Trinh Ngoc Thanh, deputy general director of the airline.

Within the framework of the program, Saigontourist Group and Vietnam Airlines cut deals with Japan’s leading partners such as the Japan Association of Travel Agents, the Japan National Tourism Organization, ANA, Peace In Tour, and MS Tour to foster two-way tourism cooperation.

Saigontourist Group, Vietnam Airlines, and ANA will join hands to launch a tourism promotion program in Osaka, Japan on Friday.

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