National Assembly Chairman: 'Vietnam's tourism services are still very poor'

National Assembly Chairman: "Vietnam's tourism infrastructure and services are still very poor. We are not satisfied when we go to different places."

Giving opinions on the draft Law on Tourism (amended), on the morning of September 19, opinions in the National Assembly Standing Committee emphasized the need to create mechanisms and policies to promote the development of Vietnam's tourism commensurate with its potential and advantages; especially to overcome current shortcomings and limitations.

"Vietnam tourism services are still very poor!"

Agreeing with the assessment that the current tourism exploitation is not commensurate with the potential and advantages, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan raised the issue that our sea and forests are not inferior to any country in the region, but the number of visitors is small, coming once and then not returning. This law must be enacted to promote better tourism development, improve quality, in a modern direction, attract more visitors and visitors to return.

To do that, we must think and clarify what the weaknesses are in order to create a legal framework to promote development. "Vietnam's tourism infrastructure and tourism services are still very poor. We are not satisfied with going to different places, especially in places where large numbers of domestic and foreign tourists gather, which does not meet the development requirements" - the National Assembly Chairman frankly said; at the same time, he emphasized that tourism development cannot be separated from culture to be successful.

Chairman of the Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh

Mr. Thanh also proposed that there should be a special mechanism in heritage management, and that there must be community responsibility to participate in protection. The way to treat heritage must also be more special than elsewhere, both preserving and promoting exploitation. If we just keep it without exploiting it, then the title is useless, the title must be associated with development. Pointing out 3 "bottlenecks": tourism infrastructure, institutions and human resources, Chairman of the Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh suggested paying attention to traffic infrastructure, connecting tourism centers; training human resources and quick and convenient administrative procedures.

“In Quang Ninh, when the People's Council set a deadline for tourist boats to ensure greater safety, the press, here and there, said that doing so was a violation of the law. But if safety standards are kept like that, after a few days, the boats will catch fire and sink. A special mechanism is needed. If we consider tourist boats as normal means of transport and regulate them as they are now, I'm afraid that it will be unsafe and affect the safe tourism environment,” said Mr. Vu Hong Thanh.

Regarding state management, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chu Luu also wondered: "The role of the People's Council - the elected body - is not mentioned, while plans, policies, and measures to develop local tourism and ensure safety must all be passed through the Resolution of the People's Council. Now we talk about the policy of socialization, but the legal mechanism for the role of the Fatherland Front, mass organizations, and communities is not clearly seen in the draft."

A market alone cannot compete.

According to Mr. Nguyen Khac Dinh - Chairman of the Law Committee, tourism development cannot be done by just one industry but requires the participation of many sectors, because this field is comprehensive and highly integrated. Therefore, it is necessary to coordinate in handling related issues, such as regulations on immigration procedures, visa issuance, commercial rights, etc. to attract tourists.

Mr. Dinh cited that when there were new regulations on entry and exit, there were cases where thousands of people traveling by ship were stuck and could not complete the procedures. Many countries exempted visas, but we only exempted a few countries and for a short period of time… Those factors all affect the tourism industry in general.

Regarding the regulations on tour guides, Mr. Nguyen Duc Hai - Chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee said that they are too strict and not suitable to current reality, especially in the context of increasingly expanding international cooperation.

“As I understand it, both locals and foreigners can work as tour guides. Integration is about promoting international cooperation. Currently, the hotel business is all about famous brands, and travel agencies are not only Vietnamese who can bring Japanese and Korean people, but also partners. A market alone cannot compete. Foreigners are still allowed to work as long as they meet the requirements, conditions, and pay taxes in full according to regulations…” – Mr. Hai stated his opinion.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Hai - Chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee

The Chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee also cited the reality in Hue or some places where foreigners have lived in Vietnam for a long time and have a strong attachment to Vietnam, so it should be encouraged that they meet the requirements to work as tour guides for visitors from other countries.

“We should have an open view. Attracting tourists is the destination, the product, but speaking well is the tour guide. They are the bridge, leaving an impression on tourists. If the law is too strict, it can be managed but there is no competitiveness, it is difficult to promote cooperation in tourism development” – Mr. Nguyen Duc Hai said./.

According to VOV