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| Nha Trang city is among most popular overseas destinations for Korean travelers |
VOV cited the report conducted by digital travel platform Agoda, a 36% increase in outbound travel from the Republic of Korea was recorded this Liberation Day in comparison to the same period from last year.
Japan stood out as the most popular overseas destination for Korean tourists, occupying the top three spots, with Fukuoka leading Tokyo in second and Osaka in third. The Japanese destinations are followed Nha Trang in Vietnam and Bangkok of Thailand.
This comes after Nha Trang city and Phu Quoc island city in the southern province of Kien Giang were also listed among the three most popular international destinations for Korean tourists, according to a survey unveiled by Korean news outlet Rankify Korea.
Known for the friendliness of its people, Nha Trang city is flanked by nearly 10km of white-sand coastline, with clear waters being warm all year round for visitors to enjoy.
Along with offering beautiful beaches, the city attracts visitors with its pagodas, temple towers, and marine world display.
Vietnam leads ASEAN in number of tourists to RoK
Vietnam sent the most tourists to the Republic of Korea (RoK) in ASEAN and is a very important market for the RoK in term of MICE tourism, said Mr. Lee Jae Hoon, chief representative of the Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) in Vietnam, at a MICE roadshow recently held in Ho Chi Minh City.
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| Vietnam sent most tourists to RoK in ASEAN. (Photo: VNA) |
According to KTO Vietnam, in the first six months of 2024, the RoK welcomed more than 293,000 Vietnamese tourists, a year-on-year increase of 30% and reaching nearly 90% of the same period in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2023, the number of Koreans visiting Vietnam reached 3.6 million people, while the number of Vietnamese people visiting the RoK has also increased continuously since the COVID-19 pandemic, surpassing 420,000.
This made Vietnam the largest market sending tourists to the RoK in ASEAN, and the 5th largest market in the world after China, Japan, Taiwan (China) and Hong Kong (China).
In addition to the recovery and general growth of the tourism industry, Korea's MICE tourism is also attracting international incentive tourists, including Vietnam. In 2023, KTO Vietnam supported more than 41,000 Vietnamese visitors to Korea through the incentive travel program, 56% of the same period in 2019 and nearly three-fold increase compared to the same period in 2022.
Within the framework of the MICE Roadshow, there are many meeting and exchange activities to promote Vietnamese MICE tourists to the RoK such as B2B Meeting, a place to meet and exchange directly between representatives of Vietnamese and Korean tourism and travel agencies, and Hello Korea seminar program especially for potential businesses of Korean MICE tourism./.
Pakistan offers visa-free entry to Vietnamese tourists and businessmen
According to VOV, Pakistan has recently announced changes to its visa policies, including a significant waiver of visa fees for visitors from 126 countries, including Vietnam.
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| Pakistan offers visa-free entry to Vietnamese tourists and businessmen. (Source: VOV) |
At a press conference held on August 13, Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, Culture and National Heritage Attaullah Tarar revealed that the electronic visa (e-Visa) fees for visitors from 126 countries have been abolished, starting on August 14, whilst the application process has been significantly streamlined.
He noted that for these nations, the visa will be issued free of charge for either tourism or business purposes, and a 90-day visa will be granted within 24 hours.
The Minister also announced a new online visa application form that now contains only 30 questions, compared to nearly 100 as previously.
Tarar expressed hope that the easing of the visa regime will serve to make Pakistan a more attractive destination for both investment and tourism.
Vietnamese tourists and businesspeople can access https://visa.nadra.gov.pk/e-visa/ and select the “Visa Prior to Arrival” option to apply for e-visas.
Vietnam Airlines to add 500,000 seats on National Day
National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced plans to add 2,500 flights on local and international routes, with over 500,000 seats on offer in total to meet the spike in travel demand during the upcoming National Day holiday, reported VOV.
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| Vietnam Airlines to add 500,000 seats on National Day (Source: VOV) |
On domestic routes, the airline will focus on raising the frequency of flights on several key routes, including Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang/Da Lat/Cam Ranh and Ho Chi Minh City – Hue/Phu Quoc. The total number of seats will therefore reach 330,000, equivalent to over 1,700 flights, up 19% compared to the same period from last year.
Meanwhile, on its international routes, Vietnam Airlines will increase flights to destinations such as India, China, Thailand, and Australia with the total number of seats reaching more than 150,000, equivalent to 650 flights, a slight increase compared to last year.
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| Vietnam Airlines. (Source: VNA) |
The airline also recommends that passengers book their tickets in advance in order to have more options with suitable flight times and attractive airfares./.