Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivers the opening speech. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

This is the second conference on tourism development held in 2023, in the context that the whole country is making every effort to achieve the highest tasks and goals of 2023, creating momentum for better results in 2024 and the early stage of the year-end tourist season.

Attending the conference were Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha; Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Government agencies; leaders of ministries, branches, central agencies; Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities; leaders of major business associations in the tourism and aviation sectors; economic and tourism experts.

Opening the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that tourism is identified as a key economic sector, contributing significantly to job creation, hunger eradication, poverty reduction, investment attraction, growth promotion and economic restructuring, preservation and promotion of traditional, historical and cultural values ​​of the nation, and improvement of the material and spiritual life of the people.

Tourism is a practical and effective bridge of international exchange, for tourists all over the world to visit, experience, share, understand and love more the country, culture and people of Vietnam.

According to the Prime Minister, the world situation has recently changed rapidly, with unusual difficulties and challenges, much more complicated than forecast. In the country, the scale of the economy is still modest, internal strength is not large, resilience and adaptability are limited, and with a large economic openness, it is greatly affected by developments in the world situation. Our country's tourism industry has encountered many difficulties, especially in attracting international tourists.

Under the leadership of the Party, the management and administration of the State, the participation of the entire political system, the companionship and support of the business community and the people, the socio-economic situation has achieved quite comprehensive results. The macro-economy is stable, growth is promoted, inflation is controlled, major balances are ensured; difficulties in the real estate market, corporate bonds, etc. have been gradually overcome.

In that context, Vietnam's tourism is on the path of recovery and development. By the end of October 2023, the total number of international tourists reached about 10 million, domestic tourists reached 99 million. However, tourism still faces many difficulties and challenges. International tourists in the first 10 months of 2023 were only 69% compared to the same period in 2019. In addition, the tourism industry faces many challenges, especially meeting the increasing demands of the domestic market and competition from countries in the region and internationally.

Online conference on “Rapid and sustainable tourism development” to localities. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

To develop tourism into a spearhead economic sector, achieving the goal of welcoming at least 35 million international visitors and 120 million domestic visitors by 2025; welcoming 50 million international visitors and 160 million domestic visitors by 2030, Vietnam Tourism needs to truly innovate its thinking and approach with creative, breakthrough, synchronous and effective measures; implementing "close linkage, smooth coordination, comprehensive cooperation".

The Prime Minister requested the Conference to exchange and discuss to find solutions to short-term and long-term problems; some key issues for the tourism industry to develop quickly and sustainably.

In which, delegates identified opportunities and challenges for Vietnam Tourism; shared successful experiences of countries around the world. Associations, businesses, researchers, experts and each ministry, industry and locality discussed and proposed breakthrough, specific and feasible solutions to remove difficulties, overcome challenges, take advantage of opportunities, and create favorable conditions for rapid and sustainable development of Vietnam Tourism.

The Prime Minister requested the Conference to focus on clarifying the contents and requirements on: Tourism development policy mechanisms; resource mobilization, human resource training for tourism; ways to organize and manage tourism development from the national level to units and enterprises; coordination between levels, ministries, branches, units and enterprises in tourism development...

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the conference. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in the context of difficulties, challenges and favorable opportunities intertwined, with the close direction of the Government and the Prime Minister, the coordination of ministries, branches and the efforts of the whole industry, tourism activities have gradually recovered.

The work of drafting documents and state management of tourism has been focused on; tourism promotion and advertising has been promoted; digital transformation in tourism has been promoted... Tourism activities and events have taken place vigorously in localities. Issues to facilitate international tourists that have been identified many years ago such as immigration management, electronic visas, the duration of unilateral visa exemptions... have had strong changes. Tourism products have been renewed, increasing their attractiveness and competitiveness. Many new destinations have been invested in, the system of technical facilities and infrastructure serving tourism has been improved...

However, the recovery rate of international tourists is still low compared to 2019 and compared to the supply capacity of the industry. Vietnam's tourism promotion and advertising activities have not met the requirements in terms of level, frequency and coverage. Visa policies are not flexible and competitive enough. Tourism products are not commensurate with potential and strengths. Tourism human resources are lacking and of low quality...

At the conference, delegates discussed difficulties and obstacles, proposed solutions and offered advice to attract visitors, develop Vietnam's tourism quickly and sustainably; strengthen regional and industry linkages, and public-private cooperation to build products and promote tourism. Delegates discussed the role of localities and entities in destination management and tourism promotion; overcoming seasonal factors, promoting the attraction of international tourists through air, land and sea border gates; the role of Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad in attracting international tourists; solutions to increase tourist spending through purchasing goods, etc.
According to VNA