Impressive numbers on Vietnam tourism prospects

According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the growth rate of international visitors to Vietnam was 8.9% over the past decade, far exceeding the average 3.4% worldwide.

Vietnam's Tourism Development Strategy to 2020, with a vision to 2030, has also projected many positive target figures such as: total revenue from tourists increasing to 18 - 19 billion USD by 2020, contributing to GDP growth of 6.5 - 7%.

The impressive figures mentioned above were just announced at the Rally Program responding to the message of World Tourism Day 2015 with the theme "One billion tourists, one billion opportunities" recently held in Hanoi.

At the meeting, the message on World Tourism Day 2015 with the theme “One billion tourists, one billion opportunities” of the UNWTO Secretary General was announced. Accordingly, currently, each year, more than one billion tourists visit international tourist destinations. These one billion tourists have made tourism a leading economic sector, contributing 10% of the world’s total GDP and 6% of the world’s total export turnover.

Hoi An is famous as one of the tourist attractions for foreign visitors.

Discussing the potential for tourism development in the world and in Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Quang Lan, Chairman of the Hanoi Tourism Association, said: “Vietnam tourism has been a pioneer in international integration: In 1981, it officially became a member of the UNWTO; in 1989, it became a member of the Pacific Asia Tourism Association (PATA); and effectively participated in many other bilateral institutions in the world. Up to now, the Vietnamese tourism industry has achieved certain results.”

“Compared to 2014, the number of international tourists to Vietnam in 1990 increased 30 times; the number of domestic tourists increased 35 times; total revenue from tourism contributed about 6% to GDP. Tourism became the fourth largest export industry after crude oil, textiles and seafood,” said Mr. Nguyen Quang Lan.

The amazing beauty of the Northwest.

Sharing the same view, at the rally, Mr. Bruno Angelet, Ambassador, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam also commented: “We can see that across the length and breadth of Vietnam, many modern resorts with world-famous hotel brands have been and are being built. The opening of Terminal T2 of Noi Bai International Airport, investment in the construction of the Hanoi - Lao Cai Expressway, as well as the Government's visa exemption for Western European countries last July are important tools to facilitate tourism and promote tourists to Vietnam”.

In fact, along with the socio-economic development, up to now, the Vietnamese tourism industry has met the conditions to clearly affirm its position as an important economic sector. Tourism activities are taking place vibrantly from urban to rural areas, from coastal areas, islands to mountainous areas, plateaus... Tourism activities have been and are contributing effectively to the modernization of the country, at the same time playing a positive role in building and promoting the image of the country with a traditional culture, imbued with national identity to international friends in the process of international integration.

Many new types have just been put into operation on the Han River to increase tourist attraction to Da Nang.

From the perspective of a manager, Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan, General Director of the General Department of Tourism, affirmed that "in the current context, the development of national tourism needs to be identified as a strategic orientation with clear planning and specific research in many fields. Tourism must truly be a model implemented by the people and for the lives of the people themselves. Only when people truly benefit spiritually and economically will tourism fully develop its effects, contributing to creating job opportunities, economic development, and raising social awareness of cultural preservation".

Also at the meeting, many impressive figures on the development potential of Vietnam's tourism were announced. For example, according to UNWTO, the growth rate of international visitors to Vietnam was 8.9% over the past decade, far exceeding the average figure of 3.4% worldwide. The World Travel and Tourism Council predicts that by 2023, Vietnam's tourism industry will create 2.307 million direct jobs (accounting for 4.1% of total employment).

And the Vietnam Tourism Development Strategy to 2020, vision 2030, has also shown a positive outlook for Vietnam tourism, through figures such as: total revenue from tourists increasing to 18 - 19 billion USD by 2020, contributing to GDP growth of 6.5 - 7% with 42.5 billion USD in attracting investment capital.

According to Infonet