Viet Nam-Pakistan tourism businesses connect for greater cooperation

The programme brought together nearly 100 Vietnamese tourism businesses and nearly 20 Pakistani tourism businesses, along with representatives of management agencies, tourism organisations and associations, and airlines from the two countries. It provided an opportunity for businesses from both sides to directly exchange information on the market, introduce products, seek partners and discuss business cooperation opportunities in tourism and related services.

Speaking at the programme, Pakistani Ambassador to Viet Nam Kohdayar Marri emphasised that there remains significant potential for tourism cooperation between Viet Nam and Pakistan. The two countries boast many distinctive destinations, landscapes, and cultural and historical values that can complement each other and provide visitors with more choices.

The Ambassador said tourism not only creates business opportunities but also serves as an important channel for promoting people-to-people exchanges and mutual understanding between the two countries.

The programme focused on turning potential and tourism survey and promotion activities into concrete products, partnerships and visitor flows. Vietnamese businesses were introduced to destinations and tourism products in Pakistan, while Pakistani businesses learned about destinations, products and tourism services in Viet Nam. The two sides also discussed the possibility of developing tour programmes suited to the needs of each market.

One area of particular interest at the programme was the development of Halal tourism and Muslim-friendly services. Delegates discussed demand for Halal food, prayer spaces, accommodation facilities and human resource training to better meet the needs of Pakistani tourists as well as Muslim travellers in general. This is considered a promising area of cooperation, while also creating opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to gain wider access to the international Halal tourism market.

In addition, air connectivity was identified as one of the key factors in promoting tourist exchanges between the two countries. Delegates discussed passenger travel demand, the possibility of operating charter flights and measures to strengthen air connectivity in the coming period.

As part of the programme, three memoranda of understanding on cooperation were signed. Specifically, the Ha Noi UNESCO Travel Club (HUTC) and the Pakistan Association of Tour Operators (PATO) signed an MoU to strengthen the network of cooperation between travel companies of the two countries; Viet Nam-Pakistan Tourism Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company and Travel Walji’s (Pvt) Limited signed an MoU on the development of joint tourism markets and products; and Airblue Limited, VTours Viet Nam Company Limited and Viet Nam-Pakistan Tourism Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company signed an MoU on cooperation in aviation, tourism, market development and air cargo transportation.

In the coming period, the two sides will continue to encourage destination promotion activities, organise familiarisation programmes for businesses and media organisations, strengthen connections among travel businesses, develop tourism products suited to the needs of the two countries’ markets, and study solutions to promote air connectivity.