Ha Long Bay, a renowned tourist attraction in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Developing sustainable tourism in combination withpreserving and promoting national cultural values, and protecting landscapesand the environment is among targets set in Vietnam’s master plan on tourismdevelopment by 2020, with vision to 2030.
To achieve this goal, the country needs to carry out comprehensive measureslike completing legal system, implementing overall tourism development plans,enhancing competitiveness, professionalising tourism promotion, protectinglocal culture and natural environment, and training human resources.
According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism under the Ministryof Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnamese tourism sector has enjoyed soundgrowth in number of tourists, revenue and accommodation facilities since 2011.
Tourism has made significant contributions to protecting heritage values andrelic sites in many localities. It has an important position in the country’ssocio-economic development strategy.
On the occasion of World Tourism Day 2017 (September 27), themed “SustainableTourism – A Tool for Development”, Secretary General of World TourismOrganisation Taleb Rifai delivered a message saying that respecting nature,culture and the host will make significant contributions to ensuringsustainable tourism development.
He stated that tourism is the third largest export industry in the world afterchemicals and fuels. It brings hope, prosperity and understanding to manypeople in the world, he said.
Over 1.2 million travellers crossed international borders in 2016 and thefigure is expected to reach 1.8 billion by 2030.
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2017 as the International Year ofSustainable Tourism for Development, an opportunity to promote tourismdevelopment to build a better future for people, planet, peace and prosperity.-VNA
VNA
