Vietnamese arrivals to Japan set record high during January-November

The above figure surpassed the previous record of 495,051 visitors achieved in 2019, reported the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) on December 20.

From Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, tourists can easily fly to major cities in Japan such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya, Osaka, and Kobe.

Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Yamada Takio expressed his delight at the new record, adding that 2023 is a special year, when Viet Nam and Japan celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.

The bilateral relationship is at the highest level in all fields, including politics, economy, and culture, he noted. Both nations have elevated their relationship to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world".

Deputy Director General of the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) Ha Van Sieu said that Japan is one of the top foreign destinations of Vietnamese holiday-makers while Viet Nam is also popular among Japanese tourists. In the first 11 months of 2023, Viet Nam welcomed nearly 530,000 Japanese visitors.

Japan has always been one of the key source markets for Viet Nam's tourism industry in recent years.

During the 2015-2019 period, the number of Japanese tourists visiting Viet Nam increased by 1.4 times to 952,000 in 2019, with an annual average growth rate of 9.1 percent.

Japanese tourists are interested in tours to experience local culture and explore UNESCO World Heritage, and resort-style vacations in Viet Nam.

Ha Noi, Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh, Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, the Mekong Delta region, and HCM are the most attractive for Japanese visitors.

Viet Nam has paid special attention to promoting the image of its country and people to Japanese people. A wide range of programs to popularize tourism destinations of Viet Nam and the country's cultural festivals have been organized in many cities of Japan. Vietnamese travel agencies have also participated in many international tourism fairs in Japan.

Yoshida Kenji, head of JNTO representative office in Viet Nam revealed that in 2024, the office will carry out measures to increase the number of Japanese visitors to Viet Nam.

The office will also work with organizations and individuals in the industry to implement the Japanese Government's three new tourism strategies, including "sustainable tourism development", "increase in tourism consumption" and "regional attraction" in order to promote tourist exchange between the two countries.