HCMC joins forces with Korea’s Jeju to promote tourism

News - The HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Jeju Tourism Organization to promote tourism activities and attract tourists between the two sides.

Nguyen Viet Anh, head of the Travel Division under the city’s tourism department, said the MOU signing is part of the working schedule of Jeju Island’s tourism organization in HCMC.

Under the MOU, the South Korean side will support the local tourism industry to train Korean-speaking tour guides while the latter will receive Jeju’s students coming for studies.

Besides, the two sides will cooperate to develop tourism products such as MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) and promotional activities as well as encouraging enterprises to launch promotional programs for visitors.

According to Anh, South Korea has emerged as one of Vietnam’s fast-growing visitor-generating markets over the past few years. The country now ranks fourth in the top ten visitor-generating markets of HCMC.

In 2011, Vietnam received about 200,000 tourists from this nation. This year HCMC has put on the agenda numerous promotional programs aimed at developing this high-potential market.

South Korea last year was also one of the popular destinations for Vietnamese travelers. Especially, the tourism program to Jeju Island without entry-visa has attracted a huge number of Vietnamese visitors.

A number of travel agencies in HCMC reported monthly tours departing for South Korea these days, which hasn’t been seen before.