Vietnam Aims to Make Tourism a Key Economic Pillar, Targeting 10-12% of GDP by 2030

Vietnam has set an ambitious goal to transform its tourism sector into a key economic pillar, aiming for it to contribute 10-12% to the national GDP by 2030. This objective, outlined in Resolution No. 26 approved by the Politburo on August 22, 2026, also includes elevating Vietnam's tourism competitiveness to be among the top 30 globally by 2045, with a direct GDP contribution of 14-15%. At a national conference held on September 3 to implement this resolution, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra announced plans to attract 45-50 million international tourists and 160 million domestic visitors by 2030, generating a total revenue of $80-90 billion. The strategy is projected to create approximately 2.3 million direct and 3.5 million indirect jobs within the next four years. In 2025, Vietnam's tourism sector contributed about 8.8% directly to the GDP and supported around 4.41 million jobs. For 2026, the target is set at 25 million international visitors and a total revenue of VND 1,125 trillion (approximately $43.2 billion). As of August this year, Vietnam had welcomed nearly 16 million international tourists, a 14.4% increase compared to the same period last year. While East Asian tourists continue to form the largest group, with China (3.54 million) and South Korea (2.76 million) accounting for nearly 40% of the total, a notable surge has been observed from Russia, with over one million visitors, marking an increase of over 165% year-on-year. This growth is attributed to the resumption of charter flights and the enhanced appeal of coastal destinations like Nha Trang, Mui Ne, and Phu Quoc. The Vietnamese tourism industry is anticipated to achieve double-digit growth in this "new era," a concept introduced by Communist Party General Secretary To Lam since he assumed the highest leadership position in August 2024. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the core of achieving these goals lies in "radically innovating thinking, approaches, and methods," focusing on "transforming the growth model and tourism management methods from quantity to quality, and enhancing the added value for the economy." The government is designating Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City as the three growth poles to drive tourism as a paramount national economic sector.