The event, themed “Come to an amazing India 2019”, featured the participation of representatives from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, alongside nearly 50 Vietnamese travel agencies and major travel agents from India.
Addressing the seminar, K. Srikar Reddy, Consul General of India in HCM City, emphasised the historical and civilisation links between the two countries. According to him, the two sides’ senior leaders regularly exchange mutual visits, focusing on tourism cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, which are the key elements of the Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership.
The cultural, historical, religious and natural heritages are outstanding advantages of India, Srikar Reddy said, adding that the country also possesses unique traditional values and diverse colourful festivals, offering many options for tourists.
In 2018 alone, India welcomed more than 31,400 Vietnamese arrivals, up 32% compared to the previous year, the diplomat stated.
 |
Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, Deputy Director of the HCM City Tourism Department, speaks at the seminar. (Photo: VNA)
According to Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, Deputy Director of the HCM City Tourism Department, India ranks 11th among the 20 leading tourist sources of HCM city. By the end of 2018, Indian tourist arrivals to the city reached roughly 103,000, representing a year-on-year increase of 80.9% and accounting for 50% of the total Indian arrivals in Vietnam.
The municipal tourism sector always sees India as among its potential tourism markets, she said, adding that India is also one of the favourite destinations of Vietnamese travellers, especially pilgrimage travel, medical tourism and sight-seeing tourism.
Hoa stated that, in the future, HCM City will continue to accelerate exchanges and cooperation, design tours connecting tourism through the famtrip and presstrip activities aiming to strengthen the circulation of tourists between the two countries.
On the occasion, Vietnamese and Indian travel agencies discussed and shared experience in the process of building tours and advertising their services and destinations to partners.
