Cairo (VNA) – Vietnam and Egypt have yet to fully tap their potential fortourism cooperation and make it match their bilateral ties, VietnameseAmbassador to Egypt Tran Thanh Cong has said.
Speakingat a workshop in Cairo on June 27, the diplomat said only about 900 Egyptiansvisited Vietnam last year while the number of Vietnamese tourists to theAfrican country was around 1,300.
Thesefigures remain low as compared with their tourism cooperation potential, hesaid, blaming the lack of tourism information for the situation.
Congtold Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondents that Egypt is working hard toimprove its tourism infrastructure, aiming to attract more international holiday-makers,including those from Vietnam.
EgyptianDeputy Minister of Tourism Emad Hasan suggested Vietnam and Egypt pay attentionto such issues as tourism development structure, institutions and regulations,infrastructure and promotion activities via the social network.
Thetwo countries should optimise their fruitful relations to promote collaborationin economy and tourism in particular, he said.
Vietnam’sCommercial Counsellor Pham The Cuong pointed out that the geographic distanceand no direct flights are major challenges to the bilateral tourismcooperation.
Besides,tourism promotion activities between the two countries remain limited, headded, suggesting the two sides push ahead with tourism cooperation programmes,diversify their tourism products and enhance connectivity between their travelagencies.
MohamedFarouk from the Egyptian Travel Agents Association told VNA correspondents thatVietnam and Egypt should consider opening a direct air route and increasingflights between the two countries.-VNA