The Vietnamese Embassy in Austria hosted the Vietnam-Austria Tourism Forum on October 13 to promote tourism potential and encourage partnerships between businesses in the two countries.
Opening the forum, Vietnam’s ambassador to Austria, Vu Le Thai Hoang, said tourism cooperation remained an area of significant untapped potential, particularly as the two countries approach the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027.
The milestone offers an opportunity to strengthen bilateral friendship, expand economic cooperation and promote people-to-people exchanges through tourism, he said.
Vietnam’s tourism industry has been growing strongly, according to the ambassador. The country welcomed more than 21 million international visitors in 2025, while arrivals reached 17.7 million in the first nine months of 2026, up 14.5 per cent year on year.
Vietnam aims to attract about 25 million international visitors this year, drawing on its natural landscapes, cultural heritage, beaches, cave systems and diverse cuisine.
The country has also received numerous international tourism awards, including the title of the world’s leading heritage destination six times, Asia’s leading destination seven times and Asia’s leading culinary destination four times.
These accolades reflect the diversity of Vietnam’s tourism offering, which could appeal to Austrian visitors seeking nature, cultural heritage and authentic local experiences.
Hoang said improved air connectivity was essential to increasing visitor exchanges. There are currently no direct flights between Vienna and Vietnam, meaning travellers often have to connect through hubs such as Frankfurt, Paris, Istanbul or Doha.
Representing Austria’s Federal Ministry for Economy, Energy and Tourism, Ingrid Zimmermann said Vietnam was becoming an increasingly attractive destination for Austrian travellers because of its natural scenery, cultural heritage and hospitality.
She encouraged businesses, government agencies and tourism organisations from both countries to use the forum to exchange information, find partners and develop concrete joint initiatives.
Zimmermann said tourism contributed about 6.5 per cent of Austria’s gross domestic product. In 2025, the country recorded around 48 million visitors and 157 million overnight stays, nearly 75 per cent of which were generated by international tourists.
Tourism plays an important role in job creation and local economic development, particularly in rural and mountainous areas, she said.
Austria is implementing its Vision T tourism strategy, which aims to promote year-round sustainable tourism while improving economic performance, supporting local communities and preserving natural and cultural resources.
As Asian markets become increasingly important, Austria is seeking to expand tourism cooperation and visitor exchanges with Vietnam.
The forum is expected to create further opportunities for cooperation among government agencies, travel companies and aviation partners, helping promote destinations, diversify tourism products and strengthen bilateral tourism ties.
