VI
EN
At the seminar, both sides exchanged specific details to promote tourism development between the two countries and identified a program for implementing cooperation activities in 2018 and 2019. Under this agreement, the Vietnam Travel Association will register to participate in several programs organized by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). Conversely, the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) committed to supporting several programs organized by the Vietnam Travel Association, particularly by sending a delegation of American travel businesses to attend the VITM 2018 trade fair in Hanoi from March 28th to April 1st, 2018.
The Chairman of the Vietnam Travel Association signs a cooperation agreement with the Chairman of the US Travel Association. Photo: Toquoc.vn
According to Mr. Vu The Binh, Vice President of the Vietnam Tourism Association, "We are witnessing the development of a good relationship between VISTA and ASTA. In April 2017, we welcomed the first ASTA delegation led by Mr. Robert Duglin, Vice President, to attend the VITM Hanoi 2017 Fair and survey some tourist destinations in Vietnam. Today, we are honored to welcome Mr. Jay Ellenby, President of ASTA, and Mr. Roland Garvil, Assistant President, to visit and work with VISTA. The presence of the highest-ranking leaders of a leading global travel association represents a new step forward in the tourism relationship between Vietnam and the United States."
"The President's visit coincides with an important event in Vietnam-US relations: US President Donald Trump is in Vietnam attending the 25th APEC Summit and making an official visit. I read President Trump's speech and felt his appreciation for Vietnam's history and the achievements the Vietnamese people have made in recent years. We also sense the strong development and significant achievements in multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and the United States. This is also reflected in the tourism sector," Mr. Binh shared.
In 2016, the total number of US tourists traveling abroad was 80 million (56% to Canada and Mexico, 6.6% to Asia, and 4.37% to Southeast Asia), with total spending of $246 billion (source: American Society of Travel Agents - ASTA). Of these 80 million US tourists, Vietnam received 552,644 visitors (accounting for 15.6% of the total visitors to Southeast Asia and 10.26% of the total visitors to Asia). In the first 10 months of 2017, 506,354 US tourists visited Vietnam – an increase of 10.6% compared to the same period in 2016 (source: Vietnam National Administration of Tourism). Tourists from the United States consistently rank among the top 5 in Vietnam's tourism industry.
"In 2016, 88,000 Vietnamese citizens traveled to the United States. If visa procedures were easier, this number would certainly increase rapidly, as many Vietnamese people aspire to visit the United States, the world's number one economy and a country brimming with achievements in science and technology. With what we have achieved, we firmly believe that all tourism relations between the two countries will develop rapidly, meeting the aspirations of the leaders and people of both countries," Mr. Binh affirmed.
At the seminar, the President of the US Travel Association directly exchanged information and answered questions from Vietnamese businesses regarding cooperation and support solutions between the two sides to attract American tourists to Vietnam and vice versa. Finally, the President of the Vietnam Travel Association, Vice President of the Vietnam Tourism Association Vu The Binh, and the President of the US Travel Association Jay Ellenby signed an agreement to cooperate in tourism development between the two sides in the coming period.
