Tourism expected to account for 7.5 percent of GDP

Published: 22:44 Sunday - March 10, 2013

According to the General Development Plan to develop Vietnam’s tourism until 2020 with a vision to 2030 which has recently been approved by the Government, the tourism industry will account for 7.5 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Strategy on Vietnam's tourism development is regarded as one of the ambitious
targets of the tourism sector

The main objective of the general development plan is to develop tourism into a key economic sector by 2020 which accounts for an increasing proportion of GDP and creates a driving force for socio-economic development. The plan also develops tourism in the direction of professionalism and modernism with a focal point and a particular focus on in-depth development, assuring quality and efficiency while affirming brand and competitiveness.

Other objectives would include simultaneous development of domestic and international tourism; sustainable tourism development associated with the preservation and promotion of cultural values of the nation; landscape preservation and environmental protection and maintaining security, national defense, social order and safety. The plan will also mobilize all domestic and foreign resources for investment in tourism development, striving to turn Vietnam into a nation that has a developed tourism industry by 2030.

The general development plan also set specific objectives: By 2020: Vietnam would attract 10.5 million international and 47.5 million domestic tourists; total revenue from tourism would reach US$18.5 billion, accounting for seven percent of the country’s GDP; the sector would create 2.9 million jobs, including 870,000 employees working directly in tourism. Similarly, by 2030 Vietnam would attract 18 million international and 71 million domestic tourists; total revenue from tourism would reach US$32.5 billion, accounting for 7.5 percent of the country’s GDP; the sector would create 4.7 million jobs, including 1.4 million employees working directly in tourism.

To fulfill the set targets, the plan draws up several development orientations in terms of tourist market, tourism products and tourism space. Regarding development of tourist markets, it focuses on the market segment of tourists of convalescence, with high affordability and long-stay. As for orientation to develop tourism products, the plan prioritizes sea tourism products that can competes in the region and promotes the development of food tourism, ecotourism products including mountain tourism, agriculture and rural tourism. It would diversify tourism products for different kinds of tourists with diversified demand such as Meeting, Incentive,. Convention and Exhibition (MICE) tourism, urban tourism, education tourism, sport tourism, convalescence and pleasure-boat tourism.

As for organizing tourism space, Vietnam would develop seven tourist regions with distinctive products in specific regions; 46 national tourist areas, 41 national tourist spots, 12 tourist urban areas and several important tourist sites and zones, creating a driving force to promote tourism development throughout the country.

In term of solutions for tourism development, the plan focuses on implementation of mechanisms, policies; mobilization of investment capital, human resources, sci-tech application, international cooperation, natural resources and environmental protection and solutions in respond to impacts of climate changes.

The General Development Plan to develop Vietnam’s tourism until 2020 with vision to 2030 is regarded as one of the ambitious targets of Vietnam’s tourism industry. However, many tourism experts said these targets can be easily achieved because the future of Vietnam’s tourism industry is very promising. Over the past consecutive years, tourism has been making big contributions to the country’s GDP, including 5.3 percent of GDP in 2012 and this figure is expected to continue to increase in the coming years./.

VEN