In the eleven months of 2019, Vietnam had nearly 16.3 million foreign tourists, up 15.4% from the same period last year. The rate was relatively high compared with a 6% growth in the number of foreign tourists in Asia-Pacific and a 5% increase in Southeast Asia. It is estimated that Vietnam will have 18 million foreign tourists in 2019, earning a total revenue of 720 trillion dong (over 313 million US dollars).
Yet, the competitiveness of Vietnam’s tourism remains low with many of the country’s tourism rankings reporting drops or still being at low levels. Many problems and bottlenecks of the tourism industry have not been addressed properly. Tourism promotion remains limited due to a lack of resources and operation mechanisms and the absence of overseas tourism promotion offices. The tourism development support fund was established but has not started yet. The airport infrastructure is overloaded, failing to meet the increasing tourist demands. The visa policy is still limited as compared regional countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Yet, the competitiveness of Vietnam’s tourism remains low with many of the country’s tourism rankings reporting drops or still being at low levels. Many problems and bottlenecks of the tourism industry have not been addressed properly. Tourism promotion remains limited due to a lack of resources and operation mechanisms and the absence of overseas tourism promotion offices. The tourism development support fund was established but has not started yet. The airport infrastructure is overloaded, failing to meet the increasing tourist demands. The visa policy is still limited as compared regional countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.
 Hoang Lien Son is ranked 7th among the world's 28 most attractive destinations in 2019 by National Geographic. Photo: Sun world  Phung Hung mural street is a popular tourist destination in Hanoi. Photo: Cong Dat  Around 600 ships on Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh are ready for visitors to explore the world natural heritage. Photo: Dang Tien  Tam Chuc pagoda in Ha Nam province attracts a lot of pilgrims and tourists. Photo: Viet Cuong  The former imperial city of Hue has reenacted royal rituals to attract visitors. Photo: Thanh Hoa  A festival on the peak of Ba Na Hill, Da Nang. Photo: Cong Dat  Bustling Nguyen Hue street in Ho Chi Minh City at night. Photo: Thong Hai |
To address these problems, the plenary session of Vietnam Travel and Tourism Summit 2019 focused on solutions for creating an image of a beautiful Vietnam with friendly people and an original culture in order to raise the position of Vietnam in the global tourism ranking. It discussed measures to develop tourism into a key industry which must develop quantitatively and qualitatively, paying attention to how to keep high-spending tourists to stay longer. The measures sought to improve the quality, efficiency and professionalism of the tourism promotion work by attracting the private sector to promotion activities and opening tourism promotion offices in key markets.
The summit also discussed developing organic and close ties between tourism and the aviation industry. It introduced solutions on improving the aviation infrastructure and airport service quality as a way to ensure sustainable tourism development.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism expected that suggestions and comments from experts, strategic investors and domestic and foreign businesses at the Summit would help the tourism industry find effective and practical strategies to create a breakthrough in developing tourism sustainability and raising competitiveness of the country’s tourism.
| In 2019, Vietnam was ranked 6th among 10 countries registering the highest tourism growth by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The country was also voted as the top tourist destination, top cultural destination and top culinary destination in Asia. Hoi An in Quang Nam province was voted Asia’s top cultural city. |
Story: VNP - Photos: VNA
