The “Vietnam Road Show 2008”, sponsored by the Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO), includes a tourism information fair, meetings between Vietnamese and RoK tourism businesses and a RoK art performance programme.

KTO’s President Oh Jee-Chul told the press that Vietnam, along with Thailand and Malaysia, is a strategically important market for the RoK tourism sector. The Southeast Asian country is also one of the most popular destinations for RoK tourists, he added.

The number of RoK visitors to Vietnam was reported at 470,000 in 2007, up 38% from 2006. The figure is estimated at 500,000 this year.

The number of Vietnamese visiting the RoK is also growing, reaching 60,000 in 2007 and representing a 21% increase over the average number of five years ago.

On this occasion, KTO signed memoranda of understanding on tourism cooperation with eight Vietnamese travel agencies, including Viettravel, Fiditourist, Vacation Tourist, Viking Tourist, Vietlife, Perfect Tour Travel, Transviet and Viettours.

Under the MoUs, Vietnamese travel agencies will offer local visitors RoK tours with special promotions, including free entrance fees to famous tourist sites and discounts for art performance programmes.

The RoK Consulate General in HCMC committed to further simplifying visa procedures for Vietnamese visitors.

In April, the RoK extended entry visas for the directors and tour guides of Vietnamese travel agencies