Visitors at the Japanese Cultural Park in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA)HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City is keen to develop tourism partnership with Japan and particularly Kansai region.
Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan made the remark while receiving Governor of Hyogo prefecture Ido Toshizo on November 28.
Quan said he hopes more tourists from Kansai region will visit HCM City in the coming time. He invited Japanese businesses to attend the city’s annual international tourism fair in September to boost bilateral cooperation in the field.
Governor Ido Toshizo said a number of programmes have been held in Vietnam to promote Kansai to Vietnamese people. The region hopes to greet more Vietnamese tourists in the time ahead, he added.
A business delegation from Hyogo prefecture has also conducted a trip to study investment environment in several Vietnamese localities, he noted.
The Governor expressed his delight at the growing economics and tourism ties between the two countries, which has helped increase mutual understanding and friendship.
In 2014, Japan welcomed nearly 130,000 tourists from Vietnam. The figure is predicted to reach over 180,000 by the end of this year, he said, adding that the same period more than 830,000 Japanese visited Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City.
Currently, some 5,000-6,000 Japanese citizens are living and working in HCM City, Quan said, recognising the significant contributions of the Japanese business community, including enterprises from Kansai region, to the development of the city and Vietnam at large.-VNA
