As many as 30 Vietnamese travel agencies are introducing and advertising the country's tourism potential at the 41st International Tourism Trade Fair, which opened in Berlin on March 7, reported Vietnam News Agency.
The 165-square meter Vietnamese business booth has attracted many visitors to the five-day fair, which drew nearly 11,000 businesses from 184 countries around the world. It was built in the style of the traditional communal house of ethnic communities in Vietnam's Central Highlands, walled by timber.
The Vietnam Tourism Association, in collaboration with the Vietnamese Embassy in Berlin, will host related activities including a working seminar between Vietnamese entrepreneurs, and the Economic Cooperation Ministry and Tourism Promotion Agency of Germany.
Many German tour operators are increasing the number of tours to Vietnam, saying it appears to be Southeast Asia’s shooting star, with the highest growth potential. Many things in Vietnam can attract Germans, such as friendly people, nice beaches, un-spoiled nature and cultural attractions, said Ulrike Beinlich, German marketing and public relations consultant.
Germans know Vietnam through the images of the Vietnam War, President Ho Chi Minh (very much admired by what, in Germany, was called the “68 Generation”), Saigon, and books and stories by Graham Greene and Marguerite Duras, Ms Beinlich added.
Vietnam is in competition with regional rivals like Thailand and Indonesia to attract tourists from Germany. The largest competitor is Thailand, with 420,000 German visitors in 2005 and 460,000 Germans in 2006.
“Try to do more marketing in the German market, because you have a lot of competitors. Vietnam should emphasize the countryside, the people, the atmosphere and cultural attractions,” suggested Ulrike Beinlich.
To raise the efficiency of attracting European tourists, German in particular, Vietnamese travel companies should raise professionalism in both activities and organization, and have long-term consultancy and marketing, said W.M Van Doorn, co-director of the Vietnam human resources development in tourism project.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) plans to meet with a German partner in Frankfurt to seek experience and opportunities to set up an office in Germany, according to Pham Tu, Vice Chairman of VNAT.
The VNAT official affirmed to the business that Vietnam respects and observes all international rules, which means equality among all businesses and no state subsidies.
Germany is a promising market for Vietnam with 74,000 German holiday-makers visiting the country in 2006, and more than 17,700 in the first two months of 2007. The figure is expected to reach 100,000 this year. (VietNamNet, Vietnam Panorama)
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