How to popularize Vietnam’s tourism through APEC

TIN LIÊN QUAN
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Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Huynh Vinh Ai made the remarks at a recent conference on travel businesses’ operations.

Mr. Ai revealed that the tourism sector plans to welcome at least 13 million foreign travelers this year as targeted by the government and to achieve a minimum growth of 30%. 

Illustrative image. (Photo: Begodi)

The fulfillment of this target before the end of the year is a daunting task for the tourism sector. Especially given that numerous storms and severe flooding reeked havoc and impeded tourism this year in the country, requiring travel agents to navigate their way to deal with these difficulties.

He underlined the need for airlines to facilitate direct flights to Vietnam to bring more foreign visitors to the country as well as the opening of new air routes to make Vietnam more accessible to international markets.

Provincial and city people’s committees are requested to manage destinations and ensure that the security, safety, environmental sanitation and food hygiene of each destination is up to standard and ready to host tourists successfully.

Mr. Ai also urged travel agents to seize the opportunity and take advantage of APEC Year 2017 to promote and advertise tourism on the spot.

To meet the set target, General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Van Tuan said the tourism sector needs closer collaboration from local administrations, businesses and relevant ministries and departments. 

Travel agents also have a significant role to play in the promotion of tourism and advertisement activities at home and abroad, particularly activities and services available at cities hosting APEC events.

Vo Anh Tai, general director of Saigontourist, shared his view that to successfully lure more visitors in a short time advertisement must be focused on key destinations and tourism products, with which local rival countries cannot compete.

The APEC Economic Leaders’ Week provides the perfect opportunity to effectively exploit businesspeople and diplomats. The week is a golden chance for travel agents to introduce their products and services to high-class customers and diplomats.

Nguyen Thi Van Anh, general director of HanoiRedtours said it is essential for travel agents to work hand in hand with shopping centres to introduce visitors to Vietnamese products and services as the better way to increase their spending in Vietnam.

Ms. Van Anh suggested that tourists’ spending might rise during the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders’ Week thanks to increased number of diplomats in Vietnam. As such, businesses will have to pay greater attention to the quality of services at shopping centres, especially at cities hosting APEC events.

The APEC Economic Leaders’ Week - a big event of the year - practically benefits to the Da Nang tourism sector but also poses a number of challenges. The local tourism sector is sparing no efforts to meet all of the strict criteria set by the APEC Materials and Logistics Sub-Committee to better serve international officials and visitors, said Tran Chi Cuong, vice director of Da Nang Tourism Department.

The department will plan more tours for officials from 21 APEC member economies and international reporters. At present, travel agents of Da Nang and Quang Nam are gearing up plans to better serve foreign tourists by asking the Government to adopt long-term policies on extending visa exemption for some key markets.

Mr. Tuan also called on travel agents to combat negative behaviours that are harmful to the image and brand of Vietnamese tourism and propose solutions for the relevant agencies to coordinate with destination managers in order to offer discount and promotional tours to attract more visitors.  He also emphasized the necessity of improving professional skills and the quality of services to meet the tourists’ demands.

Nguyen Quy Phuong, head of the Travel Department, said the tourism industry has achieved significant results in the recent past but some obstacles still remain, such as the prevalence of foreigners illegally conducting travel services and working as illegal tourist guides in Vietnam.

Additionally, those travel agents have faced unfair competition, poor connectivity, a shortage of guides at some tourism sites, and forged certification for professional tourist guides.

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