Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc: Tourism must strive to contribute 10% to GDP

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested finding solutions to turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector, contributing 10% to the country's GDP.

On the morning of August 9, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired the National Conference on Tourism Development held in Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, with the participation of Deputy Prime Ministers Vuong Dinh Hue and Vu Duc Dam, leaders of provinces and cities across the country, and hundreds of businesses and investors.

The Prime Minister requested the tourism industry to have solutions to promote large-scale domestic tourism development, striving to contribute 10% to the country's GDP.

Speaking at the opening of the Conference, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated that this was the first time a large-scale national conference had been held with the full participation of representatives from ministries, local branches and businesses nationwide.

In addition to the initial successes of the industry such as tourism contributing 6.6% of the country's GDP, creating direct and indirect jobs for 2.25 million people, export value reaching 8.5 billion USD, welcoming nearly 8 million tourists in 2015, the Prime Minister emphasized that this Conference must seriously assess and recognize the weaknesses of the industry. Do not let the situation of inadequacies in tourism development, including the situation of tourists"one way"”. These are environmental issues, attracting customers, price issues, safety management for tourists...

Prime Minister met with delegates attending the Conference.

The Prime Minister also said that the domestic tourism industry needs to look at the tourism experience of countries in the region, Thailand has attracted 30 million international visitors, Malaysia welcomed 26 million visitors, Singapore 15 million visitors. There is no denying the efforts of the domestic tourism industry compared to the early years of tourism development, but we must look to the region to strive, have solutions to promote large-scale domestic tourism development, striving to contribute 10% to the country's GDP.

In that spirit, the Prime Minister stated that this conference does not discuss achievements, but requires delegates to assess shortcomings and difficulties, thereby identifying clearer and more specific solutions to develop the tourism industry, creating a new working atmosphere, moving towards ending the existing shortcomings of the industry, making tourism a spearhead economic sector.

Talking about the Government's intention to organize a tourism conference in Quang Nam and Da Nang, the Prime Minister noted that localities need to mobilize the community to do tourism and develop major tourism brands.

Cua Lo Beach - an attractive tourist destination in the North Central region.

According to the report of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnam's tourism industry has many impressive figures. Last year, the number of international visitors was over 7.9 million, domestic visitors was 57 million. In the first half of this year alone, international visitors were 5.5 million, domestic visitors were over 38 million. Total revenue in the first half of the year was over 235,000 billion VND, an increase of nearly 23% compared to the same period in 2015.

The tourism industry directly contributes 6.6% to GDP, and indirectly and pervasively contributes nearly 14%. The tourism industry creates 2.25 million direct and indirect jobs. To date, the country has 1,555 international travel businesses and more than 20,100 accommodation establishments.

Vietnam has many world-class tourist destinations that attract domestic and foreign tourists, such as Ha Long, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, etc. There are more and more modern technical infrastructure systems, such as the Vinpearl Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, and Ha Long hotel chains.

In many recent working sessions with localities, the Prime Minister has always emphasized that localities should take advantage of their advantages, promote tourism development, and turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector. In particular, the Prime Minister emphasized that localities must promote and attract the entire community to do tourism by ensuring a clean environment, people living in an orderly, sincere, and friendly manner towards tourists. Along with that, it is necessary to build tourism brands, ensuring security and safety for tourists./.

According to VOV