Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the conference. (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said that despite heavy impacts by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, Vietnam's tourism development capacity index kept rising and Vietnam was one of the three most-improved countries in the world.

In November 2021, Vietnam began welcoming international tourists and fully reopened for tourism on March 15, 2022. This was an important turning point in tourism recovery. Although Vietnam opened for tourism early, the number of foreign visitors to Vietnam last year was lower than visits to other regional countries.

According to PM Chinh, travel barriers due to COVID-19 will be removed this year, which will generate both opportunities and challenges for Vietnamese tourism, including competition pressure.

Turning tourism into an economic spearhead and fulfilling the target of welcoming 110 million tourists this year, including 8 million foreigners, will require both short- and long-term solutions, said Mr. Chinh.

“What do we think we should do to make a breakthrough? We have to make the most of what we have done, good experiences, valuable lessons, and our own characteristics to move forward. How is culture coupled with tourism? How to develop cultural industry, entertainment industry to support tourism? Tourism cannot develop if infrastructure and culture do not develop. Tourism cannot thrive if the entertainment industry does not thrive in a healthy, sustainable way. All are involved to jointly make tourism prosper,” he added. 

The Prime Minister said he believes that given the involvement of the whole political system and the initiative and creativity of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnam's tourism will thrive as  the motto says "Special products - Professional services - Convenient procedures - Competitive prices - Hygienic environment - Safe and friendly destination”.

Vietnam is set to be among the top 30 countries of best tourism competitiveness, he said.