VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s tourism, worried over the falling number of arrivals from Japan, is planning many activities in the Land of the Rising Sun to promote the country as a popular outbound destination for Japanese tourists, a tourism official said.

The country’s tourism will also work together with international tourism companies in Vietnam and big local tour operators for luring more Japanese visitors.

Binh told the Daily last week that new promotions were planned after the number of Japanese visitors had fallen due to poor tourism products and the lack of effective promotion campaigns.

In fact, many activities have been taking place in both countries to rev up the campaign. These include the Vietnam Festival 2008 that just wrapped up in Japan, a familiarization trip for tens of Japanese tour operators and media in the coastal city of Nha Trang on October 3, and another promotion trip in Japan late this year jointly organized by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and Vietnam Airlines.

Arrivals from Japan have changed for the worse, indeed.

“The number of visitors from Japan has fallen by around 3.7% in the first seven months of 2008,” Binh said, adding this was the first time there occurred negative growth from the market.

Japanese arrivals over the years have seen good growth rates, although the pace did slow down. The annual growth was 27.5% in 2004, 20% in 2005, 13.4% in 2006, and 9% in 2007, with nearly 420,000 guests from Japan in this latest year.

Since 2003, the country’s tourism industry had set a target to attract around 500,000 Japanese tourists in 2005, but this aim was never realized due to the aforesaid slowdown.

Binh admitted to scant promotions in Japan in recent times after the closely coordinated efforts between the tourism sector and the airlines to promote Vietnam destinations in Japan in the past years.

“We’ve seen the problem and seated together for discuss the new cooperation. The two sides have pledged to join hands, contribute both budget and efforts for developing the market,” he said.

The country’s tourism will also work together with international tourism companies in Vietnam and big local tour operators for luring more Japanese visitors.

The travel department last week in Hanoi met with representatives of some Japanese joint venture companies in Vietnam such as JTB, H.I.S, and APEX to discuss ways for jointly developing the market. The meeting will be repeated in HCMC soon.

“We’ve reached the same voice and are going on to make next steps for developing the Japan market”, he added.

(Source: SGT)