Vietnam Tourism Sets New Strategy for Qualitative Growth, Focusing on High Value and Sustainability

Vietnam's tourism industry is embarking on a new strategic direction, shifting its focus from simply increasing visitor numbers to enhancing qualitative growth and maximizing added value. This pivot is guided by Politburo Resolution No. 26, Government Resolution No. 263, and the action plan from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, setting ambitious targets of 45-50 million international tourists and $80-90 billion in tourism revenue by 2030. A significant aspect of this new strategy is the redefinition of growth metrics. Beyond traditional indicators like visitor arrivals, room occupancy, and revenue, the emphasis is now on quality, efficiency, sustainability, and value creation. Tourism is expected to act as a catalyst for transportation, commerce, culture, the creative industry, agriculture, the night economy, and community livelihoods. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's action plan aims to serve 160 million domestic tourists, provide approximately 1.5 million accommodation rooms, and recognize 20 national tourist areas by 2030. Concurrently, it promotes a transition towards green growth and circular economy models. Recent data indicates that Vietnam ranks third in Asia for repeat visitor rates, following Japan and Thailand, with its international tourist growth rate exceeding the Asia-Pacific average. However, the government's primary objective is to convert tourist trust and affection into tangible economic value, targeting high-spending visitors and those seeking longer stays. To achieve this, initiatives such as developing green tourism criteria, phasing out single-use plastics, and promoting green transportation are being implemented. Policy reform is a key priority, with plans to review the Tourism Law (2017) and improve human resource policies. Businesses are calling for revisions to regulations concerning investment, land, credit, and taxation, as well as special mechanisms for large-scale tourism projects. Further expansion of visa policies for key markets, particularly for MICE, long-stay, and health tourism segments, is also deemed necessary. Infrastructure development, specifically enhancing connectivity to major tourist hubs, remains a critical challenge. Encouraging private sector investment and expanding commercial facilities, duty-free shops, night markets, and entertainment services are crucial for increasing non-accommodation and food spending. Digital transformation is recognized as an integral part of the development infrastructure. Applications like AI and VITA Green, along with management training and product quality improvement programs, are expected to support businesses, especially SMEs. The focus is shifting from geographical destination linkages to "value chain linkages," involving travel, aviation, accommodation, commerce, services, and local communities to ensure that tourism benefits are retained locally. Source: Nhan Dan