Viet Nam, Saudi Arabia sign action program to spur tourism linkages

The document was signed within the framework of the ongoing visit to Saudi Arabia of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

It is a joint initiative reached by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung and Minister of Tourism Ahmed A. Al-Khateeb at their meeting in Ha Noi last August.

The program comprises measures to increase the exchange and sharing of information, experience, statistics on the Halal market, tourist demand, tourism human resources development and training, tourism promotion events, and tourism investment opportunities in the two countries.

Minister of Cultures, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said that Viet Nam always expects to boost international cooperation to build and develop the Halal tourism value chain to meet the taste of tourists from the Muslim community. 

The Southeast Asian national also wants to promote its tourism in Halal markets like Saudi Arabia, he added.

In reply, Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al-Saud highly spoke of Minister Hung's proposals, while affirming that the two countries are determined to promote tourism cooperation.

She said Saudi Arabia is considering issuing e-visas to tourists from Viet Nam and her ministry will soon work with domestic travel and tourism companies to study and develop product packages that are suitable to the taste of Vietnamese tourists.

Saudi Arabia also expects to open direct flights between the two countries, Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al-Saud said./.