India is working to attract more Vietnamese tourists by improving tourism links and travel products, officials and travel businesses said at a tourism workshop held in Hanoi on December 30.
The event was organised by the Indian Embassy in Vietnam and brought together many Vietnamese travel companies. Discussions focused on how to increase cooperation, promote new tour products, and solve problems that may discourage Vietnamese visitors from choosing India.
Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Tshering W. Sherpa said India has more than 40 UNESCO-recognised sites and many famous destinations linked to Buddhism, Yoga, and luxury travel. He said India has organised familiarisation trips for travel firms and the media to help promote the country in Vietnam.
Vietnamese travel companies noted that India already has some advantages. These include easy e-visa procedures, short flight times of about 4–5 hours, and popular Buddhist pilgrimage tours. However, some businesses said tours in India need more evening and night activities to encourage longer stays and higher spending.
Others suggested improving tour diversity, increasing meetings with Vietnamese travel firms, and training more local guides with better language skills.
Tourism is growing strongly between the two countries. Vietnam has seen a sharp rise in Indian visitors in recent years, while Vietnam is also becoming an attractive destination for India’s fast-growing middle class.
