It is necessary to expand visa policies, visa exemptions, build tourism products, services, international events and perfect tourism development mechanisms and policies to remove bottlenecks in attracting international visitors to Vietnam.
These were the recommendations made at the Conference on rapid and sustainable development of Vietnam tourism chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on November 15.
Speaking at the conference, the Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to urgently submit to the Prime Minister for approval the Tourism System Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2045.
To attract international visitors to Vietnam, it is necessary to further promote tourism - Photo: QUANG DINH
By the end of October 2023, the total number of international tourists to Vietnam reached about 10 million, only 69% compared to the same period in 2019 - the time before the Covid-19 pandemic. Admitting that Vietnamese tourism is less attractive to international visitors, Mr. Vu The Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, said that it is necessary to review the industry's promotion and advertising work.
"Overseas promotion to attract international visitors to Vietnam is too little, many of the world's top international fairs are ignored or if they participate, they are very limited, making the image of Vietnamese tourism fade," said Mr. Binh.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao - Chairwoman of Sovico Holdings - expressed her impatience when she said that beautiful international destinations such as Phu Quoc pearl island, Nha Trang bay, the Central heritage road Hue - Da Nang - Hoi An, the wonder of Ha Long bay... are freezing tens of thousands of hotel rooms, entertainment services, and restaurants are all stagnant.
"We need to act urgently to make these destinations crowded again," said Ms. Thao.
Along with prioritizing more budget for tourism promotion and advertising, Ms. Nguyen Thai Hoai Anh, Deputy General Director of Sun Group, proposed that the Government expand unilateral visa exemption for citizens of countries with large tourism spending and long-term stays such as Australia, Canada, the US, the remaining EU countries and some countries in the Middle East...
Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Ky, Chairman of Vietravel Holdings, suggested that the tourism industry should calculate and set a high target for 2024 to welcome 18 - 20 million visitors, not just 12 - 14 million as at present.
"Only by setting high goals can we have breakthrough solutions, policies, and motivation for development," said Mr. Ky.
Deputy Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang said that since the Law on Entry and Exit took effect on August 15, 2023, as of November 14, there had been about 5.6 million foreigners entering Vietnam, an increase of 1.8 times compared to 2022.
Of these, 85% of foreigners entered the country for tourism purposes, the rest for investment, work, visiting relatives, and studying abroad. Particularly for unilateral visa exemption, there were more than 1.25 million arrivals, 1.6 times higher than the previous year.
