Vietnam, India look to boost tourism links

Tourists visit Trang An tourism complex in Ninh Binh province (Source: VNA)

India will continue boosting cooperation in tourism with Vietnam, including the promotion of spiritual and health tourism links, said Indian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Smita Pant.

Addressing a tourism promotion seminar in HCM City on July 6, Smita Pant said the Indian Government will continue implementing projects introducing spiritual and healthcare tourism between the two countries while supporting Vietnamese nationals with short-term tourism visa.

Besides, the launch of a direct air route between Vietnam and India by Vietjet Air and Air India will contribute to making it easier for holiday-makers of the two nations to visit each other.

According to the consul general, about 85,000 Indian tourists visited Vietnam in 2016, while Vietnamese visitors to India reached about 20,000. 

The figures are moderate compared to the two countries’ tourism development potential, she said.

Nguyen Huu Y Yen, Deputy General Director of Saigon Tourist, Vietnamese tourists have been interested in India  after the film “the Ganges River's Mystery” was screened in Vietnam in 2007.

However, the number of Vietnamese tourist arrivals to India still remains low, he said.

The opening of direct air routes between Vietnam and India will help enhance links between Vietnamese and Indian tour operators as well as boost tourism promotion between the two nations, he added.

VNA