Accordingto the resolution signed by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, thetourism industry set records in 2016, with international arrivals up by twomillion from 2015.
Totalrevenues have surged by 62 trillion VND (2.76 billion USD). Both touristnumbers and revenues reached the targets set for 2020 four years earlier thanexpected.
Thesector’s development has also contributed greatly to the conservation of thecountry’s culture heritage and natural resources, as well as improved theliving standards of many Vietnamese.
However,the development of the sector has not reached its full potential, theresolution said. The sector’s products have not been sufficiently attractiveand distinctive, the quality of tourism services has been limited while thestate management has not been effective.
Humanresources are another weakness, with tourism firms being mainly small andmedium size, with limited experience.
Intersectorcoordination was still ineffective, the resolution also said.
ThePolitburo, thus, aims to develop tourism into one of the country’s key economicsectors, attracting 17 to 20 million visitors by 2020. Tourism revenues areexpected to reach 35 billion USD, and four million new jobs are forecast.
Inorder to realise these goals, the resolution sets out several tasks.
Amongthem is the need to prioritise the development of the tourism infrastructureand develop highly attractive and distinctive products. Certain provinces andcities with potential and strengths in tourism sector will have to build theirown projects.
Theresolution also calls on relevant agencies to continue to improve the legalsystems and policies to facilitate the development of the tourism sector. Stateagencies need to adopt policies for investment in tourism, such as allocatingbudgets for human resources training and promotion activities.
Othermeasures touched upon by the resolution include investment in tourism infrastructure,building and promotion of activities; creating a favourable environment fortourism firms and developing tourism human resources.-VNA