Vietnam Needs a Boost in International Tourism

 

According to Mr Vu The Binh, Head of the Travel Department under the Vietnam Administration of Tourism (VNAT), the numbers of international tourists to Vietnam in 2006 and the past months of 2007 have increased remarkably, especially from Korea, Japan and America. Vietnam’s integration is boosting the number of international tourists it receives. VNAT statistics report 3.58 million international tourists in 2006. Categorized by the stated purpose, travellers for business and trade, visiting relatives, and tourism, have increased 16.2 per cent, 10.4 per cent and 1.5 per cent, respectively. Tourists travelling by air have increased 15.7 per cent, and by water 11.8 per cent, while those travelling by land dropped 31.2 per cent.

 

Though the number of international tourists to Vietnam has increased, it has not exploited its full potential. Vietnam tourism still faces many difficulties which need to be overcome, involving tourism products, infrastructure, and services. Mr Tran Hung Viet, Deputy managing director of Saigon Tourism Corporation (Saigon Tourist), said tourists should be attracted by new technology in use in marketing and online ticket selling systems. Tourism products and services need to be diversified to meet the demand of travellers, in accordance with new trends such as cultural/historical tourism and spa tourism, and above all the quality of tourism human resources must be increased.

 

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Exotissmo Travel Vietnam, Mr Tran Khang Thuy, warned that the lack of hotel rooms will increase room prices. It is forecast that this increase will also last through 2008 and put up tour prices, making Vietnam a high-price destination. According to the Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism, Hoang Tuan Anh, Vietnam needs 15,000-20,000 more four-five star rooms. To this end, the big cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh have to invest in building hotels, as well as upgrading existing 3 star hotels.

 

Mr Jonathan Galaviz, a specialist of Globalysis Co. Ltd said, “Vietnam is one of the hottest destinations among Asian countries. The number of international tourists to Vietnam is forecast to increase by 10 per cent annually and reach about 3.94 million tourists in 2007.” Thus, VNAT said it would strengthen broadcasting of Vietnam tourism on many different channels worldwide and create tourist products specific to the location, in order to attract more international tourists with higher spending to Vietnam. Additionally, the official effort toward a comprehensive Vietnam tourism programme is a new positive dynamic for tourism development.