Visa-free entry between Vietnam and Singapore has confirmed the strong growth in tourism cooperation between the two countries. Singapore Tourism Board is the first foreign travel agency to open a representative office in Vietnam. It helps promote and increase the number of tourists from Singapore to Vietnam and vice versa.
In recent years, bilateral relations between Vietnam and Singapore in various fields have flourished, bringing about practical benefits to the two peoples. Tourism cooperation between the two countries has made positive progress. Tourism Cooperation Agreement was signed at the governmental level on August 26th 1994. The Vietnam-Singapore Tourism Commission (SVTC) was established in 1998, so far it has organised 13 sessions. The two countries have focused on two main areas: personnel training through the Training Centre Vietnam – Singapore and development of seagoing ships.
According to statistics, Singapore is an important market sending tourists to Vietnam. In 2014, Vietnam welcomed 202,436 arrivals from Singapore, up 3.4 percent compared to 2013, ranking 12th among the biggest markets sending tourists to Vietnam. In 2014, Vietnamese arrivals to Singapore reached 424,408, up 11.5 percent compared to 2013, is one of the largest markets sending tourists to Singapore.
Recently, as part of a business trip to Singapore and attending SEAGames 28, on June 5th 2015, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam Hoang Tuan Anh also had meetings with the President and the Prime Minister of Singapore to promote cultural and tourist cooperation. Earlier, on June 4th 2015 in Singapore, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism organised a roadshow to introduce Vietnam’s tourism. This is one of the significant activities to celebrate the 50th National Day of the Republic of Singapore (August 9th 1965-August 9th 2015), and 70th National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2nd 1945-September 2nd 2015), contributing to strengthening traditionally friendly relations between Vietnam and Singapore after the two countries established diplomatic relations on August 1st 1973.
Singapore is also a favourite destination for Vietnamese tourists. Vietnamese arrivals to Singapore continue to rise, and Vietnam is one of the markets achieving the highest increase in number of tourists visiting the island. Some local attractions in Singapore are Merlion Park, Botanic Garden, Chinatown, Sentosa Island and Singapore Zoo.
On cooperation in the field of marine vessels, Singapore Tourism Board has implemented the survey of tourist sites in three sea central provinces of Thua Thien – Hue, Da Nang and Quang Nam, to consult Vietnam to build specialised port to welcome tourists as well as research investment opportunities to build tourist seaport and tourist investment in these localities.
Most recently, during the Ministerial Conference on the economic connection between Vietnam – Singapore, tourism agencies and authorities said that the two countries will actively facilitate enterprises to form the cruise route from Singapore via Vietnam to Northeast Asian countries, to attract cruise tourists from third countries to Vietnam and Singapore. In ASEAN, Vietnam and Singapore will together build, develop sea and river tourism products, two of the four types in the priorities of ASEAN tourism development.
Recently there is some information about some Vietnamese citizens are denied entry to Singapore. Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (ICA) affirmed the policy to welcome all nationals, including citizens of Vietnam to travel to Singapore. Singapore does not apply any discriminatory measures with Vietnamese nationals. Singapore refused entry only for citizens who use passports with different personal information for multiple entry, citizens who have violated the law in Singapore or those with no clear purpose of entry. In the next time, Singapore would have stronger support in translating paperwork for Vietnam citizens to enter quickly and conveniently. With these efforts, cooperation in the field of Vietnam-Singapore tourism will continue to develop further in order to match with the Strategic Partnership the two countries signed in 2013.
Ha Vu
Vietnam-Singapore: Close Tourism Development Cooperation Related image(s)
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