Developing tourism in a professional and effective direction

Focus on developing agricultural tourism

Reporting at the conference, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said that in the first 10 months of 2023, the number of international visitors to Vietnam reached nearly 10 million, an increase of 4.6 times over the same period last year, exceeding the annual plan; domestic visitors reached 98.7 million.

Total revenue from tourists reached VND582,600 billion. In order to take advantage of opportunities, overcome difficulties and challenges, and create breakthroughs in tourism recovery and development, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposed a number of tasks and solutions such as: studying and proposing short-term visa exemptions for tourists from a number of potential, large-scale markets such as China, India, etc. to stimulate tourism demand, especially during the low season; expanding unilateral visa exemptions for citizens of countries with higher levels of development than Vietnam, with large tourism spending such as Australia, Canada, the US, and the remaining countries in the European Union; piloting long-term visas (3 years, 5 years) to attract high-end tourist market segments, retirees, etc.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the conference. Photo: VIET CHUNG

At the conference, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association Vu The Binh pointed out that the connection between regions, industries and businesses is not good. According to him, provinces and cities only focus too much on organizing superficial activities in the country such as festivals, political, cultural and economic events associated with tourism. While in reality, tourists are only interested in traditional cultural identity...

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Ky, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Tourism and Transport Marketing Joint Stock Company (Vietravel), suggested that we should calculate the orientation at a high target for 2024, and seize the opportunity to welcome 18-20 million visitors. Because setting a high target will have breakthrough solutions, policies, and motivation for development. It is necessary to strengthen the National Steering Committee on Tourism Development; promote the development of the night-time economy; and have events that approach international standards and are of international stature to attract tourists...

Speaking at the conference, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said that Vietnam has many heritages, some of which have been recognized by UNESCO. “A river, a mountain, an identity, a brocade, a flute melody… all are heritages. If we consider heritage as a new tourism product, it will extend Vietnam’s tourism map, make a difference, and bring great value,” the Minister said.

He cited that four countries, China, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand, all attach great importance to agricultural tourism. This is the national image, the image of nature, the heritage left by our ancestors, the legendary stories from the mountains and rivers. Minister Le Minh Hoan suggested that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to chair the conference to concretize the Prime Minister's decision on developing agricultural tourism.

Organize more international events

Concluding the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that Vietnam's tourism still has many distinct potentials, competitive advantages, and outstanding opportunities to continue developing in the coming time. However, it is necessary to frankly acknowledge the shortcomings, limitations, and weaknesses. Institutions, policies, and laws need to be further amended, supplemented, and improved. The linkage in tourism development between ministries, sectors, and localities, especially in terms of management, promotion, product development, and human resources, is not substantial and effective.

Currently, there is still a situation of "everyone doing their own thing"; the linkage between sectors, especially between transportation, industry and trade, health care... and tourism is not tight; the national and international tourism service chain has not been created, there are no national tourism stimulus campaigns; tourism products do not really have a focus, key points, there are not many unique products...

International visitors experience boating on Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal (HCMC). Photo: GIA HAN

To develop tourism in the coming time, the Prime Minister requested that, first of all, it is necessary to further raise awareness of the position, role, importance, value, efficiency and spread of the tourism industry; develop a comprehensive, fast, sustainable and highly effective tourism ecosystem; build a unique Vietnamese tourism brand based on human resources, nature and historical and cultural traditions; build a national and global value chain; focus on developing diverse and rich tourism products that are both unique, high quality and have great added value; develop popular, common and mass tourism along with individual and especially luxurious tourism for high-income groups...

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to urgently submit to the Prime Minister for approval the tourism system planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2045. In addition, the Prime Minister also suggested researching and organizing more international film and music festivals...; introducing and inspiring international artists to compose about Vietnam, mentioning Vietnam in works of art...

* Associate Professor, Dr. TRAN DINH THIEN

Former Director of Vietnam Economic Institute:

Vietnam’s future is to be open in terms of finance, trade and investment, so tourism must be opened at such a high and large level. Otherwise, we will build many airports but have few connections with foreign countries, airlines will not develop well and will lose a huge opportunity. Therefore, we should reshape the entire development structure so that the tourism industry has a chance to rise.

---

* Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee NGUYEN VAN DUNG:

In the first 10 months of the year, Ho Chi Minh City welcomed about 4.1 million international visitors, reaching 82% of the 2023 plan and accounting for 41% of the country's visitors; domestic tourists reached more than 30 million visitors, equivalent to 87% of the 2023 plan and accounting for 31% of the country.

Tourism revenue reached over VND140,000 billion, exceeding the 2023 plan by 16.7%, accounting for 24% of the country's tourism revenue and equivalent to the total tourism revenue of Ho Chi Minh City before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019.

In order for tourism to develop rapidly, soon reach the growth rate as before the pandemic and develop sustainably, Ho Chi Minh City proposed that the Government approve the extension of the implementation period of Decree 94 of the Government on the deposit level for travel service business until December 31, 2024; continue to expand the list of visa-free countries, shorten the visa issuance process to attract international visitors to Vietnam; build programs to promote Vietnamese tourism in other countries to expand market share in key markets, promote potential markets; have a mechanism to support Vietnamese enterprises to participate in promotion activities; promotion plans need to be announced 1 year in advance so that localities and enterprises have the best conditions to participate.

In addition, deploy the activities of the National Tourism Promotion Fund to support the development of the tourism industry; accelerate the digital transformation process in the tourism industry, especially building a national database on tourism, a shared tourism data system; quickly deploy the Vietnam tourism planning to 2030, with a vision to 2045 for localities and businesses to proactively implement...

* Mr. LAM MINH THANH, Chairman of Kien Giang Provincial People's Committee:

The tourism industry is facing competition between destinations, areas, and tourist spots in the region. Airfares from major tourist markets such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Can Tho, and international flights to Phu Quoc are always higher than other localities, even on weekdays, not just during holidays and Tet. There are times when round-trip tickets from Hanoi to Phu Quoc cost over 10 million VND. These factors also affect the choice of destination.

We recommend that the Government, in the immediate future, connect more international flights, increase promotion of Vietnamese tourism abroad; implement a flexible visa policy; consider adjusting electricity prices applied to tourist accommodation establishments to be equal to electricity prices for production.

* Ms. NGUYEN THAI HOAI ANH , Deputy General Director of Sun Group Corporation:

In countries in the region such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, etc., resort tourism is developing quite strongly, attracting a fairly stable source of investment. Well-invested resort real estate projects will contribute to attracting a large number of visitors to Vietnam, meeting the needs of relaxation, experience, discovery, and entertainment. From there, international visitors will have longer stays, spend more, return many times and open up great investment opportunities.

THI HONG - PHAN THAO

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/phat-trien-du-lich-theo-huong-chuyen-nghiep-hieu-qua-post714330.html