Published:  16:28 Monday - December 26, 2016

The tourism industry has experienced a successful year in 2016 with total revenue estimated at VND400 trillion, international visitor arrivals at over 10 million and domestic tourists at 62 million.

Nguyen Van Tuan, director general of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said the industry has set many records this year. International arrivals are up by two million from last year, the most impressive result.

Total revenues have surged by VND 62 trillion. Both tourist numbers and revenues have met the objectives set out in the strategy for development of Vietnam’s tourism until 2020, with a vision to 2030, four years earlier than expected.

“With this strong growth, we have set the new target of 18-20 million international arrivals and 82 million domestic tourists for 2020,” Tuan told the Daily on the phone yesterday. Earlier, he attended a press conference in Hanoi on a program to welcome the 10 millionth international visitor on Phu Quoc Island this Sunday and the tourism goals for next year.

The official said the market was growing well. It is expected that international arrivals will reach 11.5 million next year and domestic tourists some 66.7 million, generating total revenues of around VND 460 trillion.

Along with the market advantages, the favorable policies for tourism to be adopted in the coming time will bring the industry into a new cycle of growth. The most anticipated policy is the resolution on turning tourism into a spearhead economic sector, to be issued by the Politburo in the coming days.

“This will be a breakthrough in tourism thinking. With this resolution, we will restructure the tourism industry, aiming towards breakthrough yet sustainable development in the coming years,” said Tuan.

Many businesses agree this is a bumper year for the tourism industry. However, the industry is facing many problems, with human resource development and product quality improvement as the two major ones.

Nguyen Huu Tho, chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, said human resource development is not commensurate with growth in tourist numbers.

The industry players are lacking of high-skilled personnel. The risk of human resources in the ASEAN region participating in the domestic market and fiercely competing with local workers is looming large.

Product development is another matter of concern, Tho said. Tourism should create more events for visitors and focus on tourist quality instead of quantity.

US$1 = VND23,500