Vietnam: An Attractive Tourist Destination
Vietnam has been one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Asia- Pacific and the country’s tourism industry has been inclined to increase strongly and gathered sufficient factors to become a key economic sector.
Over the last years, tourism advertisement and promotion activities have contributed positively to bring about the image of friendly, safe and hospitable Vietnamese country to the international friends; at the same time, to preserve and improve national cultural values, particularly, values of the world heritages in Vietnam.
The Southeast Asian country participated in various tourism promotion activities like roadshows, cultural events and international tourism fairs in Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Britain, China, Southeast Asian Nations among other. In addition, Vietnam tourism advertisement activities on some foreign television channels and newspaper have contributed to increase the number of international tourists who visit Vietnam.
In 2010 and 2011, over 5 million and 6 million international tourists to Vietnam brought about the revenue VND 4.6 billion and VND 6.2 billion, respectively. In 2011, the tourism industry contributed nearly 5 percent GDP compared to 3,9 percent in 2010.
In 2012, the tourism industry sets its target to receive at least 6.5-6.6 million international arrivals, 32 million domestic tourists with revenue VND150,000 billion. Such figures shall increase 8.3 percent, 6.67 percent and 15.3 percent compared to those in the year 2011, respectively.
In 2010, UNESCO recognised eight biosphere reserves in Vietnam, including: Red River Delta, Cat Ba Island, Western Nghe An, Dong Nai, Cu Lao Cham, Can Gio Mangrove Forest, Ca Mau and Sea and coastline in Kien Giang province.
Last year, UNESCO recognised seven world heritages in Vietnam, including: Citadel of the Ho Dynasty, Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long-Hanoi, Complex of Hue Monuments, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary, and Phong Nha- Ke Bang National Park.
Currently, Vietnam has been ranked 27 of 156 coastal countries in the world with 125 beautiful seaside resorts. Owning Ha Long Bay and Nha Trang Bay, Vietnam has also been top 12 countries with the most beautiful bays in the world.
However, according to experts, facing with the developments and impacts of the regional and world markets, Vietnam is required to apply initiative measures which can be considered to be “scripts” for its tourism development; increase the forecast, scientific and logic statistics in accordance with the international common practices; and follow up the global integration, cooperation and competition.
To do it, the prime minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a Development Strategy for Vietnam Tourism to 2020, vision 2030.
The overall target to 2020 is to develop tourism to be a key economic industry with high professionalism, modern and fairly synchronously-developed tourist infrastructure; high quality, competitive and diversified tourist products imprinted with unique traditional cultural characteristics. By 2030, Vietnam shall become the country with developed tourism industry.
The strategy sets four specific targets. Firstly, in the 2011 – 2020 period, the growth speed of tourism industry shall be 11.5 – 12 percent/year. Secondly, in 2012, Vietnam receives 7 – 7.5 million international arrivals and 36 – 37 million domestic tourists with total revenue of $10 – 11 billions accounting for 5.5 – 6 percent GDP; develop the tourist accommodation system to 390,000 rooms of which 30 – 35 percent ranks 3 – 5 stars; create 2.2 million jobs including 620,000 direct ones in the sector. Thirdly, by 2020, Vietnam tourism also set the targets to receive 10 – 10.5 million international arrivals and 47-48 million domestic tourists with total revenue of $18-19 billions accounting for 6.5 – 7 percent GDP; 580,000 rooms including 35-40 percent of 3-5 stars; create three million jobs including 870,000 direct ones. Fourthly, by 2030, total tourism revenue is expected to double that of 2020.
To realise the targets, Vietnam will focus on developing tourist products, infrastructure system, human resource, market and promotion activities, tourism policies; accelerating international cooperation and State management.
The PM assigned the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to take the lead and cooperate with related Ministries, sectors and provincial and city People’s Committees to carry out the Strategy; instruct, inspect and periodically report the outcomes to him.
http://news.gov.vn/Home/VN-an-attractive-tourist-destination/20128/15268.vgp
Category: Economy
