Although revenue from tourism continues to grow, the decline in international tourists has raised an alarm about Vietnam tourism. However, speaking at a recent press conference, Mr Nguyen Van Tuan, General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), believed that starting from June, the decline would slow down and hopefully, by the end of 2015, positive growth would return.
According to Mr Nguyen Van Tuan, from an objective viewpoint, considering the current economic and political situation, the tourism’s figures were somewhat understandable.
Looking at the first five months of 2014, before China laying its oil rig into Vietnamese claimed EEZ, international tourists coming to Vietnam increased by approximately 30 percent, of which Chinese visitors increased by 40 percent. Russian tourists visiting Vietnam rose 30 percent in 2014 but has declined sharply since the breakout of Russia-Ukraine conflict, the ruble’s falling while Russia’s struck by Western countries’ sanctions. These developments in the international arena have impacted Vietnam socio-economy. So far, the number of Russian visitors coming to Vietnam has dropped 27 percent, while Chinese tourist has decreased 40 percent.
Assessing the level of decline of two major tourist markets of Vietnam, Mr Tuan said that China and Russia accounted for 30 percent of total international visitors to Vietnam. If counting all Chinese speaking countries, the figure would be about 35 percent. The decline has pulled the tourism growth rate of Vietnam down to 12 percent, a quite dangerous rate.
Contrary to the situation in the international field, domestic tourism has been experiencing impressive growth - an increase of 10 percent compared to 2014, only four months into 2015. The Tet holiday and the recent holiday season of (April 30- May 1) was a golden opportunity for tourism development. Deputy Director of Hoabinhtourist & Convention Jackie Han said that all tourist attractions including sea tourism, resort tourism and ecotourism were all overloaded. Some sea tourism destinations did a very good job inviting in visitors. Da Nang continued to be seen as one tourism destinations of high quality, with price rising only slightly, the city succeeded in mobilising households in the pavement to allow visitors to use family toilets. There is also the island of Ly Son, where the people, schools and other institutions invited tourists to stay for free. Hoi An basically retained its tourism environment. Sam Son, though overloaded, was not out of control. Meanwhile, Ha Long, Lao Cai and several other destinations failed to get good reviews from visitors. Domestic tourists in the first four months reached 25 million, of which stayed tourists were 19 million and revenue from tourism was about VND125.7 trillion - an increase of about 2.2 percent.
During the first four months, investment and development of service facilities, accommodation facilities and tourism products in localities were paid a great deal of attention to. The momentum role of strategic investors was promoted.
In particular, the number of tourists buying tours in this year’s April 30 holiday increased 30 percent on average over last year; some companies reported a rise up to 50 percent, reflecting the attraction of domestic tourism. This presents an opportunity, potential and prospects for GDP growth, calling for a proper planning for this market.
For years, tourism marketing has not been strengthened properly; tourism promotion has been limited and fragmented, lacking a formal strategy. In the near future, Vietnamese tourism promotion will be further strengthened, especially abroad on larger scale. Features on international television, like the appearance of Son Doong on ABC news recently, are also good advertisement for Vietnam landscapes.
Thu Huyen
Vietnamese
