Vietnam tourism maintain very positive growth

In the first eight months of 2011, despite challenges arising from the global economic crisis, Vietnam tourism industry still managed to maintain very positive growth

“In the first eight months of 2011, despite challenges arising from the global economic crisis, Vietnam tourism industry still managed to maintain very positive growth. The number of domestic and international tourists climbed over the corresponding period in 2010,” Mr Nguyen Van Tuan, General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), said at a meeting that reviewed the first eight-month performances and previewed last four-month plans. The event was held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in late August.

Outstanding growth

Mr Tuan said international visitor travel to Vietnam reached 3.963 million in the first eight months of 2011, up 18.4 percent year on year. Growth was seen in all markets, led by Cambodia with a 74.2 percent increase, followed by China (53.5 percent), Malaysia (18.7 percent), the US (18.7 percent), Japan (11.7 percent), and Taiwan (5.4 percent). The number of domestic tourists in Vietnam travel was estimated at 23 million in the reporting period, a relatively high jump from a year earlier. The tourism industry reported revenues of VND85 trillion, fulfilling more than 77 percent of the full-year plan of VND110 trillion.

Ho Chi Minh City was the most attractive destination for tourists in Vietnam travel. The largest city welcomed 2.12 million international visitors in the first eight months, up 10 percent over the same period of 2010 and equal to 60 percent of the full-year plan in 2011. Tourists from Russia and some Asian countries to the city rose significantly in the eight months. Its tourism revenue reached VND12,331 billion, up 30 percent year on year.

Can Tho City served 631,000 foreign visitors in Vietnam travel from January to August, up 10 percent year on year. Its tourism revenues topped VND508.6 billion in the eight-month period, up 13 percent year on year and equal to 76 percent of the full-year plan.

Binh Thuan province saw 1.87 million tourist arrivals and made revenues of VND2,100 billion in the eight months. These impressive outcomes were resulted from the province’s active tourism promotion and advertisement activities on central and local mass media, travel publications and conferences, among others, said the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The north-western province of Quang Ninh welcomed 1.5 million international tourist arrivals in the eight months, up 12 percent, and raked in VND2,573 billion, up 12 percent year on year. Rising foreign visitor arrivals are good signs as Ha Long is going to enter the year end tourism season.

Mr Tuan attributed outstanding growth in the first eight months to strong tourism advertisement and promotion activities. Provinces and cities actively organised many tourism events to introduce and advertise tourism products and attract customers. Notable events included the Caravan Week in Quang Ngai province, International Fireworks Competition in Da Nang City, Khanh Hoa Sea Tourism Week in Khanh Hoa province, and monthly tourism promotion events in Ho Chi Minh City. The National Tourism Year 2011 hosted by Phu Yen province highlighted Vietnam’s maritime tourism products. These are advantageous tourism products of Vietnam and will become one of development focuses in the upcoming time for Vietnam tourism. In addition, Thua Thien Hue province is preparing for the National Tourism Year 2012 and Hue Festival 2012.

Concerning overseas tourism promotion operations, VNAT guided and coordinated with localities and businesses to participate in international tourism fairs like Travex Fair at ASEAN Tourism Forum 2011 in Cambodia; ITB Fair in Germany; tourism survey and promotion in India; and tourism road-shows in China, Denmark, Norway, Russia and Ukraine. VNAT also regularly organised Familiarization Trips for international travel agents, tour operators, television and media to explore Vietnam, thus enabling domestic travel companies to meet with foreign partners to create business opportunities and rely on foreign media to advertise Vietname tourism.

Besides, some other State-level campaigns like the voting for Ha Long Bay as a new world natural wonder, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has hosted a voting campaign across the country and in foreign partner nations. VNAT sent written documents vis-à-vis voting Ha Long Bay to tourism management units and hotels, carrying the slogan “each tourism worker holds a vote for Ha Long Bay” or “each tourist holds a vote for Ha Long Bay.” The ministry directly worked with some major localities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Long, Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen, Da Nang and Nha Trang to launch the voting campaign in the final stages.

Gradually improving tourism product quality

To realise the target of welcoming 5.5 million foreign visitors in 2011, the tourism sector has to speed up in the last four months. The sector will propose amendments and supplements to the Law on Tourism; the implementation of Vietnam Tourism Development Strategy till 2020 and vision to 2030 after being approved by Prime Minister; the finalisation of Vietnam Tourism Master Plan till 2020 and vision to 2030, and other research and development projects and programmes. Specifically, VNAT will continue promoting Vietnamese tourism advertisement programmes in source markets and pay special attention to highlighted events like Vietnamese Culture Days in some foreign countries. It has coordinated with relevant units to launch the National Tourism Year 2011 - Phu Yen, the International Travel Expo (ITE) in Ho Chi Minh City; will continue preparing for the National Tourism Year 2012 - Hue; will attend international tourism fairs like JATA in Japan, ITB ASIA in Singapore and WTM in the UK; and will launch road-shows in China, Russia, Ukraine, Denmark and Norway.

Besides, the tourism industry will continue to invest for developing infrastructure and service facilities, researching the development of new products, advertising Vietnam tourism products, and proposing new cultural tourism products. Besides, it will actively eradicate difficulties to facilitate tourism development, and intensify inspection over the operations of travel and accommodation agents reported to have problems with quality or price to gradually enhance the quality of Vietnam tourism.

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