Feud drives tourists from Japan, Hong Kong to Southeast Asia
Growing trade feud between Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) is redrawing the map of Asian tourism, with the RoK and Chinese travelers avoiding previously popular destinations like Japan and Hong Kong for Southeast Asia, according to the Japan’s Nikkei Asia Review.
Tokyo (VNA)🎉 – Growing trade feud betweenJapan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) is redrawing the map of Asian tourism,with the RoK and Chinese travelers avoiding previously popular destinationslike Japan and Hong Kong for Southeast Asia, according to the Japan’s NikkeiAsia Review.
In the first half of this year, the number of RoK touristarrivals in Southeast Asian nations rose nearly 20 percent annually. Thearticle said Vietnam and the Philippines have both enjoyed double-digit growthin travelers from the RoK. About 150,000 Koreans live in Vietnam, which is hometo two Samsung Electronics plants. Samsung products account for roughly aquarter of Vietnamese exports. TheRoK government plans to open a consulate in the central city of Da Nang laterthis year to serve tourists there. Asurvey by the e-commerce company Wemakeprice showed that Da Nang remains themost popular among RoK tourists during Chuseok (Mid-Autumn) holiday, followedby Bangkok and Guam. Japanese destinations like Tokyo and Okinawa have slippedin the rankings. Meanwhile,the Tourism Authority of Thailand has begun offering up to 30 percent off forEast Asian tourists at key shopping malls and duty-free stores. The discountruns to the end of October. Taiwaneseauthorities expect 400,000 fewer Chinese tourists in latter half this year,causing an economic loss of around 630 million USD. TheRoK is responsible for about 5 percent of visitors to ASEAN member states,according to the bloc's statistics. This puts the country in third place amongnon-ASEAN sources, behind China and the European Union.
Meanwhile,the UN World Tourism Organisation said China spent 277 billion USD oninternational tourism in 2018 to top the global rankings. The RoK was Asia'snext biggest spender at 32 billion USD, coming in ninth overall./.
The National Tourism Year 2018 - Ha Long - Quang Ninh wrapped up with a ceremony which coincided with a gala cerebrating the success of the ASEAN Tourism Forum in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh on January 18 night.
Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism authorities will focus on marketing and promotion campaigns to attract more foreign tourists this year, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.
Thailand and Myanmar have signed a cooperation deal to promote tourism routes connecting ancient cities of the two countries in preparation for a travel boom expected from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The number of international visitors to Vietnam in the first six months of 2019 was estimated at 8.5 million, up 7.5 percent compared to the same period last year, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) said at a press conference on July 9.
All the 240 households in Thieng Lieng hamlet once knew only salt production and aquaculture, but now welcoming tourists has become a source of their joy and income.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
At Golden Gate bridge, Da Nang (Photo: VNA) 
