Kindness and lasting attraction

During the April 30 and May 1 holidays, there was a notable shift when a large number of Vietnamese tourists, instead of going to domestic destinations, chose to travel abroad. This reflects the needs and economic capacity of consumers, and also raises the issue of the quality and attractiveness of domestic destinations and tourism products for Vietnamese tourists.

At a conference organized by the tourism industry, a representative of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism warned: We cannot follow the "quick-fix" mindset in tourism activities. Bad impressions will spread very quickly, and we will gradually lose customers. This issue is still relevant, especially when Vietnam has committed to implementing 17 sustainable development goals, including goals directly related to tourism development.

Over the past years, Vietnam's tourism industry has seen impressive growth in both the number of visitors and revenue. In 2024 alone, tourism will recover strongly with more than 17.5 million international visitors (up nearly 40% compared to the previous year) and about 110 million domestic visitors, bringing in revenue of more than VND 840,000 billion. However, behind those numbers are many troubling ripples.

The shortcomings in service culture have not been completely overcome - from the situation of "inflating prices" indiscriminately, unprofessional service, to the tricks of fraud disguised as "super cheap" tours or "zero-dong combos". The consequence is that many people lose money, and lose trust.

Many tourism experts have warned that if they want to go the long way, tourism workers need to get rid of the cutthroat, seasonal mindset, and move towards systematic development with a culture of behavior and professionalism. Tourism is a comprehensive economic sector, closely linked to the environment, cultural identity and image of the country. No matter how beautiful a destination is, if it lacks kindness and civility in service, it will turn tourists away.

Developing sustainable tourism also means preserving national cultural values ​​and ensuring behavioral culture and professionalism in every link: from policy design, service provision to direct interaction with tourists.

In 2017, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a Code of Conduct for Civilized Tourism with the aim of guiding behaviors, attitudes, habits, and civilized behavior for the subjects of application: Vietnamese tourists traveling domestically and internationally; foreigners traveling to Vietnam; organizations and individuals participating in tourism business activities; and communities at tourist destinations.

However, besides the regulations (no matter how complete), the core is still people. No one can replace the role of tour guides, receptionists, and street vendors... all of whom are "image ambassadors" of Vietnamese tourism. When kindness becomes a habit, when the spirit of service is nurtured with pride, then the attraction of Vietnamese tourism will be long-lasting.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/su-tu-te-va-suc-hut-lau-ben-post875583.html