A Czech Republic - Vietnam tourism forum was held in Prague on June 30 as part of activities to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties and promote tourism cooperation following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Ho Minh Tuan addresses
the Czech-Vietnam tourism forum in Prague on June 30. 

The forum was attended by some 100 delegates from the Czech Tourism Authority, the Vietnam-Czech Republic Society, the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe, the Vietnamese Association in the Czech Republic and Czech and Vietnamese travel agencies.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Ho Minh Tuan stressed the need to expand tourism cooperation between the two countries, saying at high-level meetings, the two countries’ leaders had agreed to increase people-to-people exchanges, and tourism is considered the best way to fulfil the task.

However, he admitted both Vietnam and the Czech Republic have yet to fully tap into their tourism potential.

The forum provides a platform for tour operators to connect each other, introduce measures and develop tour packages, said the ambassador.   

Frantisek Reismuller, Director of Foreign Offices and B2B Relations at the Czech Tourism Authority, the authority had drawn up tourism promotion plans in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, but the plans had been cancelled due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“We do hope that the tourism industry will resume operation soon and Vietnam will be on our promotion agenda,” said Reismuller. “Both the Czech Republic and Vietnam have treasured the fine traditional relationship which we think will help promote tourism cooperation between the two countries.”

Le Anh Hung, managing director of the East Sea Travel Agency in Europe, said currently, tourism companies have designed and offered preferential packages to attract travelers.

“Although many travelers are still hesitant to book tours due to COVID-19 fears, we hope tourism services will be thriving again after countries announce the lifting of travel restrictions,” said Hung.

At the event, tourism officials and travel agencies introduced the potential of each country and answered questions by those wishing to take trips in the near future.