Effectively exploiting Vietnam-Cuba tourism potential

Making Vietnam one of Cuba's important international tourist markets

Vietnam and Cuba officially established diplomatic relations on December 2, 1960. Over the past 60 years, the relationship between the two countries has always been strong and close. Economic, trade and tourism relations between Vietnam and Cuba have developed comprehensively with many cooperative activities.

Most recently, in April 2023, on the occasion of participating in the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation led by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on an official visit to Cuba, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung had talks with Cuban Minister of Tourism Juan Carlos García Granda to review the situation and results of tourism development in each country, evaluate the results of bilateral tourism cooperation between the two sides in the past time, and at the same time discuss and agree on solutions to strengthen cooperation in the coming time to be substantive, effective, and of high quality, affirming the contribution of tourism to the development of the two countries ' economies .

At the meeting between the two Ministers, Minister Juan Carlos García Granda expressed his desire to expand cooperation with Vietnam and related partners to develop the domestic tourism industry, calling for investment from Vietnam to implement projects and cooperation programs in many different fields and forms such as developing tourist accommodation facilities, developing tourism products and services, in which cultural products and services are the focus, demonstrating the attractiveness and uniqueness of tourism in Cuba.

Cuba affirmed its great interest in developing bilateral cooperation, making Vietnam one of Cuba's important international tourist markets in the coming time.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung held talks with Cuban Minister of Tourism Juan Carlos García Granda in April 2023 - Photo: VNA

Regarding the tourism cooperation situation between the two countries in recent times, the "Tourism Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the Republic of Cuba in December 1999" has become an important legal basis to promote bilateral tourism cooperation.

Despite the difficulties caused by geographical distance, inconvenient flight routes, and high travel costs, Vietnam and Cuba have proactively implemented tourism cooperation activities, affirming the contributions of tourism cooperation to enhance mutual understanding and the special traditional friendship between the two countries.

In 2018, Vietnam proactively promoted Vietnam-Cuba tourism cooperation through the coordination of organizing the workshop "Cuba - A destination within reach" in Ho Chi Minh City and organizing a delegation of tourism businesses to Cuba to work and sign trade agreements.

In March 2019, the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam, Russian airline Aeroflot and Hanoitourist travel company organized the Cuba Tourism Festival in Hanoi to help tourists better understand the nature, country, people, culture and tourism of Cuba.

Vietnam regularly invites Cuba to attend major and important events of the Vietnamese tourism industry such as the Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) and the Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Mart (ITE HCMC).

Currently, a number of Vietnamese enterprises have been interested in, researching and implementing projects on building hotel accommodation facilities in Cuba.

Exploiting great potential

Sharing about the potential for tourism development in the Cuban market, Mr. Ngo Van Thoa - Director of Pan American Travel Company said that Cuba is a special tourism market. Many Vietnamese tourists have affection for Cuba, want to visit Cuba because of the close traditional relationship between the two countries, and also want to learn about Cuban culture. Cuba is also a very hospitable country, especially Vietnamese tourists are often welcomed as relatives.

According to Mr. Ngo Van Thoa, the demand for Vietnamese tourists to travel to Cuba is very high and those who have been to Cuba love this country very much. However, the long distance, no direct flights and high airfares are obstacles that prevent the number of Vietnamese tourists to Cuba and vice versa from being large.

"We have been exploiting the Cuban market for more than 10 years now. Previously, the number of Vietnamese tourists to Cuba was about 500 each year, but now Cuba has become an important market, with peak months when the number of visitors to Cuba can reach thousands of people," said Mr. Ngo Van Thoa.

Vietnamese tourists in Cuba - Photo: Pan American Travel

Emphasizing that the potential for tourism development in the Cuban market is great, the Director of Americas Travel Company said that the company has been attached to and maintained the Cuban market for many years and will continue to develop this market further in the coming time.

"We always seek to develop new tourism products, closely cooperate with the Cuban Embassy, ​​and participate in promotional activities, fairs, and promote Vietnamese culture in Cuba to boost tourism," said Mr. Ngo Van Thoa.

To overcome the difficulty of traveling, in addition to flying to the US, Mr. Ngo Van Thoa said, Pan American Travel is also exploiting many other routes such as through Europe, through Spain... to fly to Cuba.

In Cuba, tourists can visit beautiful and typical destinations that cannot be missed such as: the peaceful El Malecon strait embankment on the Caribbean Sea; the old quarter of Havana with its unique architectural style that has been recognized as a world heritage; the El Morro fortress with its mysterious cannonball performance at night; the memorial to national hero José Martí; the Rum museum; and especially the Vinales valley - the capital of the famous cigar industry...

One of the unique experiences is that visitors will be free to take photos next to vintage cars, immerse themselves in passionate music and dance with fiery Latin Americans, and enjoy cigars right in the homeland of this premium product...

Source: https://toquoc.vn/khai-thac-hieu-qua-tiem-nang-du-lich-viet-nam-cuba-20240321230331653.htm