Setting high goals for the national economy , “paving the way” for the tourism industry with more open and stronger policies… The Government is making efforts to accelerate so that by 2025 it can “reach the finish line” with bright colors.
However, faced with the common challenges of the current economic context, how will Vietnamese tourism businesses respond to the expectations placed on them by the Government?
Chairman of Vietnam Tourism Association Vu The Binh shared about plans from domestic enterprises.
Tourism businesses take action
- Resolution 226/NQ-CP recently issued by the Government sets a new growth target for the whole country at 8.3% - 8.5% of GDP, including the tourism industry. How do you evaluate this figure in the final period of 2025?
Mr. Vu The Binh: When we received Resolution 226/NQ-CP, we were also surprised by the Government's strong determination. Obviously, when assigning such a big task to the tourism industry, it means that the Government has placed expectations and hopes on the development of the industry. This is also an encouragement for tourism to grow stronger in difficult circumstances.
We have attracted 11 million visitors in the first 4 months of the year, a truly impressive number. Despite such a rapid growth of 21%, the target number set by the Government as Resolution 226 is still a huge challenge.
Although it is a challenge, it is also the trust that the Government has placed in the tourism industry. Therefore, we must try. Since the Resolution was issued, the Tourism Association has begun to take action.
- So what exactly will the Tourism Association do, sir?
Mr. Vu The Binh: To grow rapidly in a short period of time, it is necessary to have strong, drastic programs that require all parties to participate. The problem is to choose the most reasonable path.
There are two ways for Vietnam to welcome more international visitors. First, for independent tourists, we need to increase communication so that they can get more interesting and useful information. However, this method must be “slow and steady”.
Second, the growth engine of the industry depends on travel agencies. Because their job is to communicate to sell tours. Therefore, we plan to welcome a series of Fam groups from abroad. Perhaps this is the first time we have organized a campaign to bring Fam to Vietnam on the largest scale and fastest speed in the next 2 months. We expect to welcome 300-400 leaders of travel agencies in key tourism markets in Vietnam. This has never been done before by Vietnamese tourism.
With this plan, directors of travel agencies from other countries have the opportunity to directly experience the good, new, and attractive features of Vietnam as a destination, so that they can convey those inspirations and emotions to their customers, so that when they return, with their prestige and influence, they will contribute to promoting us.
We believe that this is the force that will help Vietnam increase its tourist growth rate in the shortest time. Of course, in the long term we need to implement many tasks synchronously, but in the short term from now until the end of the year this is a feasible option.
Of course, Vietnamese travel agencies need to quickly complete new products with the best services, focusing on green tourism and local cuisine to increase attractiveness and convince visitors to Vietnam.
Green tourism is closely linked to the changing trends of tourists after COVID-19. The word “green” is the factor that ensures the safety of tourists’ trips, with “green” criteria from travel to enjoying a healthy environment, food, etc. Because tourists now always put safety first, even more important than the cost issue. They must travel safely, must really feel excited before going.
The Tourism Association has been vigorously promoting green tourism for the past two years. After learning and consulting international experience, we have now issued the VITA GREEN certification regulations with criteria on par with those of countries with developed tourism in the region, and at the same time, there are many criteria that highlight the advantages of Vietnam as a destination.
The worries of those who "serve a hundred families"
- With VITA GREEN's criteria, how do you evaluate the implementation and level of response of member businesses?
Mr. Vu The Binh: VITA GREEN's criteria are rated at an average high level among dozens of criteria in the world. The Vietnam Tourism Association, with the support of experts from the United Nations Development Program, has seriously considered international and domestic criteria before issuing criteria for 4 types: destinations, accommodation, restaurants and travel.
To date, we have awarded certificates to 40 businesses that meet VITA GREEN's green tourism criteria, striving to increase the number to 100 by the end of the year. These are businesses that tourists can completely feel secure in choosing.
- Many international events held domestically not only attract foreign visitors but also contribute to promoting and elevating Vietnamese tourism, for example, the upcoming APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc. What do you think?
Mr. Vu The Binh: All international events held in Vietnam bring benefits to the tourism industry. In addition to the main objectives of the event, we need to promote the image of Vietnam to the highest level to the politicians, delegates, experts, etc. attending. In this particular issue, we think we have not done well.
There have been many big, attractive events held in Vietnam, but the tourism industry has not yet exploited them. Because when they come, it is an opportunity for us to promote directly and that is the dream of those working in tourism. Of course, to change and do well, careful preparation is needed. Therefore, in this period, we focus on linking Vietnam's activities with tourism promotion goals.
I consider APEC 2027 to be a very good opportunity, so the Association recently held a conference in Phu Quoc. We worked with provincial leaders, local tourism associations and businesses to discuss how to effectively exploit the tourism value of the APEC event.
Accordingly, there will be a series of activities to introduce and promote Phu Quoc held right before APEC 2027 and also during that time so that politicians, delegates, experts, etc. attending international events can access Vietnamese tourism.
- In your opinion, are our visa policies and tourism promotion and communication efforts effective?
Mr. Vu The Binh: We are very pleased that the Government has supported the tourism industry at a very high level. In particular, the recent decision of the Government to exempt visas for 12 emerging markets is an initiative and determination that the Government supports the entire industry.
However, that also makes the tourism industry worried because of the heavy responsibility of how to develop and organize activities to get the best efficiency from the Government's supportive policies. We always wonder, when the Government has exempted visas, how to invest, grow stronger and increase the number of visitors.
If we invest but do not grow, it is the fault of those in the tourism industry. Therefore, we have strong plans and programs to focus on exploiting the 12 key markets that have just been exempted from visas.
- Yes, thank you for sharing./.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/doanh-nghiep-du-lich-but-toc-hanh-dong-vi-muc-tieu-tang-truong-cua-chinh-phu-post1064009.vnp
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