Vietnam Ready To Enhance Cooperation With Indonesia On Tourism

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Vietnam is ready to establish and step up cooperation with various travel agencies and stakeholders in Indonesia to increase the number of tourists between the two countries.

"We will serve tourists hailing from Indonesia covering all aspects, including the halal foods," Ha Van Sieu, deputy chairman of the Vietnamese National Tourism Agency, remarked at the Vietnam Tourism Roadshow here on Monday.

Vietnam and Indonesia have many similarities, both in social and cultural aspects, so tourists from both countries will not find it difficult to adjust, he said.

Ha Van Sieu also invited Indonesian culinary entrepreneurs to open a restaurant in Vietnam, as the South Koreans had done.

"It is definitely a great opportunity for Indonesian restaurant entrepreneurs because they can open restaurants in Vietnam," he pointed out.

Around 70 thousand Indonesian tourists visited Vietnam in November, according to the Vietnamese Culture, Sports and Tourism affairs Ministry.

"Indonesia as a big country clearly becomes a very large (market) segment (for Vietnam), and we set a target of the Indonesian tourist visits (to Vietnam) of 100 thousand people in 2017," he noted.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese ambassador to Indonesia Hoang Anh Tuan emphasized that relations between the two countries was no longer like the relationship between two countries of ASEAN but was like that between two brothers.

"As a representative of the government, I will facilitate cooperation between the two parties," the envoy explained.

The number of Vietnamese touring Indonesia is still low, only about 30 thousand people per year, according to Vincent Jamadu, assistant to the Indonesian Deputy of Asia Pacific Market Development Affairs.

Meanwhile, several travel agents have complained regarding the unavailability of direct flights to Vietnam and vice versa, especially from other cities outside Jakarta. (WDY)