Viet Nam received 4.2 million international tourists in the 1^st quarter of this year, a 39% increase compared with the same period last year.

A view of the Nui Than Tai Hot Spring Park, an attractive destination in Da Nang.

That’s a good sign for the national tourism industry, Ha Van Sieu, Deputy General Director of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), told a recent conference in Ha Noi.

The VNAT hosted travel agents, tour guides, enterprises and local authorities to discuss efforts to boost tourism, especially through promotional programmes.

As the tourism industry is one of the country’s key economic sectors, the national government has issued many policies to develop sustainable tourism and support people working in this field.

Sieu stressed the importance of international travel events such as Viet Nam International Travel Mart (VITM), International Tourism Expo in HCM City, the worldwide Travex, Moscow International Travel and Tourism Exhibition and Germany Travel Mart. He said these events are an opportunity to introduce a brand image for the country’s tourism, seek cooperation with new partners and attract more tourists.

He also suggested the country organise press trips and FAM tours, enhance online marketing, and take full advantage of international political, cultural and sports events such as APEC meetings, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meetings, and the Hue Festival to promote tourism.

Last, but not least, human resources are a decisive factor to develop the tourism industry. The panelists agreed that it’s necessary to upgrade the quality of tour guides and service providers to meet the demands of tourists.

Bui Van Dung, Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Tour Guide Association (VTGA), said the VTGA cooperates with partners to apply new technology in supporting tour guides.

“In the near future, we will complete applications to support tour guides at work and build up a platform connecting tour guides and tour companies,” he said.

A roadshow to promote tourism in Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam provinces, and Da Nang,  opened a series of promotion activities this year at key markets at home and abroad such as Ha Noi, HCM City, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

The event provides information on highlighted tours, destinations and festivals of these localities as well as tour packages and promotions.

Tourism departments and authorities of three localities recently agreed to join their efforts to promote regional tourism.

“The triangle of Hue (Thua Thien Hue), Da Nang, and Hoi An (Quang Nam) is located on the world tourism map as an attractive destination of the central region that foreign tourists cannot miss when they come to Viet Nam,” said Truong Thi Hong Hanh, Vice Director of the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

“The booth of three localities at the Viet Nam International Travel Mart 2018 in Ha Noi attracted many visitors and buyers. This time, we highlighted new destinations such as the Nui Than Tai Hot Spring Park in Da Nang, and Silk Sense Hoi An Resort in Quang Nam Province.”

(Source: VNS/ DA NANG Today)