Japanese people encouraged to travel to Vietnam

The move aims to boost the Japanese airline and tourism industries, amid demand for international travel struggling to recover in the post-COVID period.

According to kyodonews.net, to further incentivise international travel, JATA will gift JYP8,000, equal to US$60, in electronic money by lottery to 3,210 people who acquire a decade-long passport and fly internationally between July 1 and September 30.

The 24 countries and regions include China, Hong Kong (China), the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China), Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Canada, the United States, Hawaii, Guam, Mexico, Spain, Finland, France, the UK, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Australia.

Vietnam is a popular tourist destination for Japanese holiday-makers as it attracts approximately one million arrivals from the Far East nation each year.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism reports that the number of Japanese tourists visiting the country increased by 1.4 times to 952,000 in 2019 during the 2015 - 2019 period, with an annual average growth rate of 9%. In 2022, Vietnam welcomed only more than 128,000 Japanese visitors, much lower than the pre-pandemic figure. However, the number is anticipated to rise considerably this year.

Japan ranked fourth among the top 10 tourism markets of Vietnam in the last five months, with 204,000 visiting the nation in the reviewed period.

Japanese tourists are mostly interested in tours to experience local culture and explore UNESCO World Heritage sites, as well as resort-style vacations in Vietnam. Hanoi, Hoi An, Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Minh City are their most favourite destinations.