Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Hanoi International Tourism Fair VITM on April 11th in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong affirmed that Vietnam's tourism industry is showing a strong recovery and development trend with positive changes.
Making Vietnam a world-class destination.
In the first three months of 2024, Vietnam welcomed and served approximately 4.6 million visitors, an increase of 78.6% compared to the same period last year, and 3.2% higher than the same period in 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic). Domestic tourists reached 30 million, with total tourism revenue estimated at 195,000 billion VND. The above results show that tourism in 2024 is expected to fully recover, surpassing the record of 2019.
Mr. Ho An Phong affirmed that, along with the recovery and continued strong growth of global tourism, tourism products that enhance the visitor experience, such as green tourism, cultural and lifestyle experiences, and long-stay resort tourism, will be the main trends and products for both domestic and international tourists. Therefore, the tourism industry needs to continue to innovate, be dynamic and creative, make the most of technology, and effectively promote the advantages, values, and identity of localities and regions, making Vietnam a world-class destination in the region.
Today's tourists are increasingly focused on the quality of their travel experiences. They are more likely to stay longer if the destination offers many interesting experiences. While beach tourism was once a popular trend, in recent years there has been a shift towards mountain resorts and experiencing local culture. This new generation of tourists are environmentally conscious, respectful, and responsible, so the trend of seeking out unique cultural values and pristine ecosystems is also becoming increasingly popular.
Mr. Vu Quoc Tri, Secretary General of the Vietnam Tourism Association, added that tourism currently has two paths: one is green transformation, and the other is digital transformation. At this time, Vietnamese tourism must pursue both paths. "We need to green the entire system, not just a few people. The entire system must transform for the tourism industry to truly transform," Mr. Tri affirmed.
Tourism experts assess that public awareness of green transformation in tourism is increasing. However, to create consensus and achieve comprehensive transformation, much work needs to be done; it's not simply about awareness, but about action, supporting resources, and especially new technologies, so that awareness can translate into tangible results.
Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong (3rd from the right) and delegates visit a booth at the Hanoi International Tourism Fair VITM 2024.
Minimizing plastic waste in the tourism industry.
Mr. Vu Quoc Tri emphasized that the tourism industry must protect the environment, and the message the Vietnam Tourism Association wants to convey is to minimize plastic waste. To realize the message "The tourism industry joins hands to reduce plastic waste," the Vietnam Tourism Association calls on units and businesses to work together to build green and sustainable tourism, promote cultural values, respect resources, and protect the ecological environment. In particular, at VITM Hanoi 2024, the Vietnam Tourism Association requests participating units not to use plastic water bottles and plastic bags at the fair, to encourage partners and customers to limit the use of single-use plastic products when participating in the fair, and to actively implement actions to maintain hygiene and protect the environment, aiming for a VITM free of plastic waste.
"We hope that through the activities of the fair, the concept of green transformation will spread widely among tourism businesses, the tourism industry, and society as a whole, so that together with digital transformation, it will become the wings of the industry, helping Vietnamese tourism take off in the future," added Mr. Vu The Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association.
It is expected to attract 80,000 visitors.
55 provinces and cities of Vietnam, and 16 countries and territories participated in the Hanoi International Tourism Fair VITM 2024. The fair featured over 450 booths from more than 700 businesses, with 25% being international booths. It was expected to attract over 3,500 Vietnamese and international tourism businesses for networking and approximately 80,000 visitors for shopping and sightseeing.
VITM Hanoi 2024 will take place from April 11th to 14th with many tourism promotion activities, including business-to-business meetings, business-to-tourist meetings, and activities by Vietnamese and international tourism promotion agencies. Visitors to VITM Hanoi 2024 will have many exciting experiences with promotional programs, discounted airfares, affordable hotel rooms, and OCOP products from various regions across the country.
Source
Comment (0)