(VOVworld) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and two Deputy Prime Ministers Vuong Dinh Hue and Vu Duc Dam attended the national conference on tourism development in Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, on August 9. The government leaders delivered a strong message of treasuring tourism as a spearhead economic sector.
 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc addresses the national conference on tourist development

Managers and businesspeople attending the conference said it’s high time to change managerial thinking, particularly in tourist development. Tran Son Hai, Vice Chairman of the Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee, said tourism management should be in line with national integration and create open and favorable mechanisms to attract investment in tourist services and accommodations.

Hai said: “Localities have a lot of opinions about tourism’s contribution to the GDP and other benefits. Some localities think of tourism as entertainment. With that view investment and incentives for tourism have not been paid due attention.”

Conference participants have recommended more visa exemptions and reducing the time and cost of customs procedures. The government will review tourism development plans for long-term investment and promotion.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said the government will ask the National Assembly to revise the Tourism Law to complete a framework for making tourism a spearhead economic sector. Phuc said: “The law and policies should help tourism develop. We must also pay attention to the community’s participation in tourism to create a good impression of Vietnamese people. We organized this conference to promote local tourism with its friendly, smiling people. Hospitality is a tradition of Vietnam and it’s an important element of making tourism profitable.”

In 2015 Vietnam welcomed 7.9 million foreign visitors and 57 million domestic tourists, contributed 6.6% of Vietnam’s GDP, and generated 2.25 million jobs. The sector aims to contribute 10% to 20% of the GDP in 2020.