The tourism sector is showing positive signs as in the first two months of the year, the country welcomed over 3 million international tourists, demonstrating the effectiveness of favorable visa policies, tourism stimulation programs, and the efforts of localities. However, to achieve the target of welcoming 17-18 million international tourists this year, nearly double the number in 2023, breakthrough solutions and more strategic planning are required.
Boosting promotion and marketing
According to reporters from Người Lao Động (Laborer) newspaper, not only localities but also businesses are intensifying their promotion and marketing activities. At the ITB Berlin 2024 International Tourism Fair (Germany) which took place from March 5 to 7, Saigontourist Group deployed various promotion and marketing programs to enhance the attraction of Vietnam’s tourism for European visitors in general and the German market specifically. For many decades, Europe and Germany have always been important international markets for Vietnamese tourism as well as Saigontourist Group.
The 2024 ao dai (traditional long dress) festival in Ho Chi Minh City is one of the events promoting the city’s tourism to domestic and international tourists. Photo: BINH AN
The ITB Berlin Fair has a global impact on the tourism experience as it attracts about 180,000 participants, 10,000 exhibitors from more than 180 countries and territories to connect and negotiate with each other.
Mr. Pham Huy Binh, Chairman of Saigontourist Group, stated that during ITB Berlin 2024, the company carried out a series of activities to promote the images of Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam, introducing attractive tourist products and services of the Saigontourist Group to target customers. “Saigontourist Group also focuses on expanding markets, exploring new cooperation opportunities through meetings, working sessions, exchanges, and signing agreements with international travel partners at the fair,” Mr. Binh said.
On the local side, Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Tourism, said that this year, the city will organize 8 domestic tourism promotion programs and 6 foreign tourism promotion programs.
The city’s tourism industry is entering an accelerated phase. In addition to efforts to enhance the quality of annual domestic events, the Department of Tourism recognizes that overseas promotion activities need to be further invested in, both deeply and professionally. The foreign promotion programs will serve as a bridge to support tourism businesses in connecting with reputable international travel partners.
In the list of strongly promoted markets, Ho Chi Minh City will concentrate on markets such as the UK, Germany, the US, Singapore, Australia, with the expectation of welcoming 6 million international tourists and 38 million domestic tourists for the whole year.
Attracting and retaining tourists
In addition to promoting tourism to attract visitors, tourism professionals emphasize the need to upgrade products and services to keep tourists staying longer and spending more money. This is necessary as the tourism sector in Vietnam is facing strong competition from destinations in the region such as Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia…
Thailand, for example, recently announced at the 2024 ITE Berlin International Tourism Fair that its tourism industry aims to attract 40 million foreign tourists this year and is expected to earn more than $65 billion.
Meanwhile, the tourism sector in Vietnam has set a target of welcoming about 17-18 million international tourists this year, which is considered challenging compared to the target of about 8.5 million tourists set for 2023.
Speaking to reporters from Người Lao Động newspaper, Mr. Phan Xuan Anh, Chairman of the Council of Members of Viet Excursions Company, said that to attract more international tourists to Vietnam, besides beautiful beaches, picturesque landscapes, investments should be made to develop new tours and itineraries. Specifically, the local culture must be the main element along with modernity, aligned with current trends.
According to Mr. Phan Xuan Anh, visitors from Europe and the US often come to Vietnam to learn about the local traditions, history, customs, and unique cultural characteristics; they want to explore traditional handicraft villages across the country, such as making silk cloth, knitting fishing nets…
“Therefore, to diversify tourism products in order to attract visitors from Europe and the US, we need to rely on the local culture, local customs, traditional handicraft villages, folk arts… Moreover, we also need to diversify guest markets from Asia to guarantee year-round tourism and ensure that international visitors come,” said Mr. Phan Xuan Anh.
In terms of visa policies, although Vietnam has now re-applied flexible visa policies as before COVID-19, businesses continue to propose expanding the number of key destinations with high-spending and long-stay tourists.
Mr. Nguyen Khoa Luan, Director of Vietnamese Hop on – Hop off Photo Company, suggested having a visa exemption policy and allowing multiple entries and exits so that tourists feel comfortable when coming to and returning to Vietnam. Because many international tourists come to Vietnam for tourism and then continue their trips to Cambodia, Thailand… before returning to Vietnam.
Proposal to reduce immigration waiting time at Tan Son Nhat
The Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Tourism has just reported the results of the implementation of the conclusions of Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee Bui Xuan Cuong at a working session on activities related to Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
According to the Department of Tourism, it has received feedback from international organizations, large tourism companies, and international investors about difficulties and long waiting times when arriving at and departing from Tan Son Nhat airport, especially in the immigration area, even when using business-class services.
Units recommend improving the efficiency of immigration procedures at the airport and setting up a dedicated immigration channel for business-class passengers, as well as considering charging a fee for this priority service for visitors to choose.
Units also propose applying Industry 4.0 technology in the immigration process, visa issuance at border gates, and aircraft check-in procedures to reduce waiting time for tourists.
