Qingdao tourism began 2026 on a high note with the arrival of its first large-scale Vietnamese familiarization tour following the launch of direct flights to Ho Chi Minh City. The delegation, consisting of over 30 key travel agents and influencers, spent five days from Jan 2 to 7 exploring the city's winter attractions.

This visit followed a successful New Year's event with over 100 South Korean tourists, highlighting Qingdao's focused strategy to boost inbound travel.

The Vietnamese group visited iconic sites like the Badaguan scenic area and May Fourth Square, along with seasonal attractions such as the "seagull season" and "sweetness economy" activities. Industry representatives showed strong interest in Qingdao's unique winter landscapes and festive cultural atmosphere, recognizing the potential for Chinese New Year travel packages.

The 14 direct, round-trip flights between Qingdao and Ho Chi Minh City have greatly improved accessibility and reduced travel time by nearly half compared to connecting flights. This improved connectivity is facilitating a direct transition from familiarization tours to actual tourist arrivals, with the first Vietnamese tourist groups expected around the Chinese New Year in late January.

This year, Qingdao will adhere to a development strategy of consolidating the South Korean market, expanding into Southeast Asia, enhancing service for European and American visitors, and exploring the potential of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries.

Focusing on three key areas: product innovation, targeted marketing, and service enhancement, the city will implement 20 major initiatives. These include projects such as attracting hundreds of tour groups from Southeast Asia and hosting a large-scale Asian travel trade conference, all aimed at increasing both the volume and quality of inbound tourism while strengthening Qingdao's international brand influence.

Qingdao tourism begins 2026 on a high note with the arrival of its first large-scale Vietnamese familiarization tour following the launch of direct flights to Ho Chi Minh City. [Photo/WeChat account: Openings-SailingCity]