City seminar boosts China tourism

A seminar to promote Chinese tourism in HCM City was held here on Wednesday under the theme “China-Viet Nam Friendship Year: Joining hands for Tourism Development”.

Addressing the function, attended by tourism officials from China’s Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan provinces, Chinese consul general in HCM City Xu Ming Liang affirmed the significance of the development of tourism co-operation between Viet Nam and China.

Increased bilateral ties had contributed to boosting travel between the two countries, he said.

Chinese tourists had accounted for a large proportion of visitors to Viet Nam for years, Liang said, adding that improved living standards had now made it possible for more Vietnamese people to tour China.

The deputy head of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), Nguyen Manh Cuong, emphasised the importance of the Viet Nam-China friendship year which, he said, would lift bilateral relations to a new height, including co-operation in tourism.

The year was expected to increase understanding between the two tourism sectors and offer opportunities for tourism enterprises of both countries to meet and establish business connections.

HCM City welcomed 140,000 Chinese visitors last year and was expected to receive nearly 200,000 this year, said the deputy director of the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, La Quoc Khanh.

China now ranks sixth out of 10 leading markets for the city’s tourism sector.

Meanwhile, China was also one of the top-three destinations for travelers from HCM City.

It was expected that 60,000 city residents would visit China this year, Khanh said. — VNS

China holds tourism road show in HCM City

HCM CITY — The China National Tourism Administration and travel firms from China’s Guangzi, Guangdong and Guangzhou provinces held a road show in HCM City on Wednesday to promote tourism to that country.

Representatives from local travel firms received updates on services and products from the Chinese side.

The number of tourists coming from China to HCM City is rising by 25 per cent annually.

Tags: Vietnam Tourism