Hanoi (VNA) – A seminar was held by the Vietnam- France Friendship Association of Hanoi on September 23 to seek ways forfostering tourism ties between the two countries.

It was part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the countries’ diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversaryof their strategic partnership.

Nguyen Thai Dung, Vice Chairman of the friendship association,said Vietnam’s tourism sector has actively participated in many internationalcooperation activities, including in tourism, with France and obtainedencouraging results.

Theseminar was an occasion for travel companies to review tourism cooperationresults, explore the countries’ tourism potential, examine obstacles to tourismdevelopment, and propose policies for fostering tourism links, thereby helpingmake breakthroughs in economic partnerships and popularise images of the twocountries and their capital cities among businesses in the sector, he noted.

Vice Chairman of the Hanoi Tourism Association Le Ba Dung saidthe number of visitors from France, an important market of Vietnam’s tourism, tothe Southeast Asian country as well as Hanoi has been increasing. However, the growthin the tourist number has yet to match the countries’ potential and advantages.

To enhance Vietnam and Hanoi’s attractiveness to French holidaymakers,more effective promotion measures are needed, he opined, recommending newtourism products be created, traditional communications channels maximised,digital technology and social networks applied, cooperation with tourismpartners and airlines fostered, and support for tourists increased.

To Vietravel Hanoi, the strong connections betweenVietnam and France provide good conditions for tourism development, jobcreation, and the expansion of tourism companies, hotels, restaurants, andother firms in both countries.

Le Thuy Nhung, a representative of VietravelHanoi, said travel between Vietnam and France doesn’t simply mean the movementbetween the two countries but promises experiences of the diversity anduniqueness of their cultures, cuisine, nature, and histories. It will enabletourists to not only see but also experience, learn, and connect with people ineach other’s countries, helping tighten bilateral friendship and cooperation./.