Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, on Wednesday, chaired a national teleconference discussing the rapid and sustainable development of Viet Nam’s tourism.

At the national teleconference

The event, the second of its kind this year, connected representatives from the 63 cities and provinces together.

Da Nang People's Committee Vice Chairman Tran Chi Cuong presided the city's broadcasting bridge point.

In his opening speech at the online event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised that tourism is identified as a key economic sector, significantly contributing to creating jobs and livelihoods for people; reducing poverty and hunger; attracting more investment; boosting growth and economic restructuring; preserving and promoting traditional, historical and cultural values of people; and improving the material and spiritual life of the people.

At the same time, tourism is a practical and effective bridge for international exchange, so that tourists from all over the world can visit, experience, understand more, share, and love culture, and people of Viet Nam.

According to the Prime Minister, Viet Nam tourism, over the past 10 months, has witnesses a number of positive signs. As of the late October 2023, the total foreign arrivals in Viet Nam hit nearly 10 million, only 69% of that recorded in the same period last year. The number of domestic visitors reached 99 million.

However, the number of international tourists in the first 10 months of 2023 is only 69% compared to the same period in 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic).

Meanwhile, domestic tourists, after a period of strong growth in 2022, are showing signs of slowing down. The tourism industry is facing many challenges, obstacles, and problems that have lasted for many years and have not been resolved for many terms.

To develop tourism into a spearhead economic sector and achieve the goal of welcoming at least 35 million foreigners and 120 million domestic tourists by 2025, and 50 million foreign and 160 million domestic tourists by 2030, the Vietnamese tourism industry needs a genuine transformation in mindset and approach. This involves taking creative, breakthrough, concerted, and effective measures while adopting the strategy of close linkage, smooth coordination and comprehensive cooperation, Mr. Chinh said in his speech.

The national leader asked participants to clarify contents and requirements related to mechanisms and policies for tourism development, resources and workforce training for the industry, tourism governance from the national level to local units and businesses; and coordinating efforts among ministries, agencies, units and enterprises.

Da Nang People's Committee Vice Chairman Tran Chi Cuong presided the city's broadcasting bridge point

In Da Nang alone, between January and September, the number of guests served by accommodation establishments reached more than 5.8 million, 2.1 times higher than the same period in 2022, reaching 138% of the plan.

Of which, more than 1.6 million were international visitors, reaching 314% of the plan, whilst domestic visitors were over 4.2 million, increasing 1.7 times over the same period in 2022 and reaching 114% of the plan.

Revenue from accommodation and travel services hit more than VND11,000 billion, an increase of 93% over the same period in 2022 and reaching 150% of the plan.

Till date, there are 34 flight routes to Da Nang, including 8 domestic and 26 international routes (15 regular direct flights and 11 direct charter flights), with a frequency of 110-118 flights/day.

Reporting by THANH LAN - Translating by M.DUNG