Japan has long been among the top five markets of Vietnam’s tourism sector with 481,519 Japanese coming to Vietnam in 2011, up 8.9% from the previous year.

According to Mr. Aoyaki, Chief of the Secretariat (organising board of the Vietnam Festival in Japan), Japan has 83 tourism related media offices, of which 17 ones from Asia. In South East Asia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines already have representative offices in Japan.

VNAT has drawn up a scheme with various specific activities intended to attract one million Japanese visitors, including the establishment of the representative office. When the office is opened, Japanese will be able to reach necessary, updated information about Vietnam at home, thus contributing to effective tourism promotion campain in Japan. To foster the establishment process, Japan has already set up a committee to promote the opening of the office.

It is hoped that with determination of both Vietnam and Japan, and strong support of JICA, the interest and cooperation of travel agencies receiving Japanese tourists, the office would be opened early next year.

Hong Thanh (TITC)