A high-level tourism delegation from Vietnam visited Thailand in late June 2007 as part of efforts to learn from Thailand’s experience in tourism promotion and development.

Led by Dr. Vu Tuan Canh, Vice Chairman, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, (VNAT), the visitors met with Mrs. Phornsiri Manoharn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Dr. Sasithara Pichaichannarong, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Sports to discuss matters related to marketing, advertising, public relations and human resources development.

The delegation also visited Mahidol University (Tourism School) and toured various parts of Bangkok as well as the beach resorts of Phuket, Phi Phi Island, and Pattaya during 19-23 June, 2007, to look at infrastructure developments and facilitation of tourists.

Dr. Vu told the Thai tourism authorities that Vietnam is also pursuing a vigorous tourism promotion policy and wishes to learn from Thailand’s long experience in the tourism industry, especially the role and functions of the TAT, one of the more prominent national tourism organisations in the ASEAN region.

In turn, TAT Governor Mrs Phornsiri said Thailand welcomed the Vietnamese delegation and was happy to share ideas and experiences in the interests of promoting regional tourism development.

Thailand and Vietnam have a number of tourism cooperation activities under way, both bilaterally as well as through regional forums like ASEAN, the Greater Mekong Subregion, and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Visitor flows between the two countries are also growing substantially due to bilateral visa-free access as well as increased transportation links, both by air as well as overland. Ongoing marketing programmes include the “Two Countries One Destination” campaign.

Vietnamese arrivals to Thailand in 2006 totalled 251,838, an increase of 28.85%, the fourth highest growth in the ASEAN region. In addition to the many first-time holiday travellers from Vietnam, there has been a significant growth in Vietnamese business travellers to attend trade exhibitions, especially since Vietnam has now become a member of the World Trade Organization.

Thais travelling to Vietnam hss also grown strongly. In 2006, the number of Thai visitors to Vietnam totalled 123,804, an increase of 142.6% over 2005. This spectacular growth has continued in the first half of 2007 when Thai visitor arrivals to Vietnam totalled 80,062, up 131.7% over the same period of 2005.

The opening of the Thai-Lao Bridge in Mukdahan province has helped facilitate Thai tourists who travel to Vietnam by car which is in line with the objective to promote greater regional integration through the Asian Highway Network and the East West Economic Corridor.