(TITC) - Ahead of the Mekong Tourism Forum 2022, hosted face-to-face from 9th to 14th October 2022 in Quang Nam Province, in central Vietnam, Mr. Doan Van Viet, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism had an interview by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO).. The Tourism Information Technology Center (TITC) is pleased to introduce the content of the interview.
Mr. Doan Van Viet - Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism
MTCO: What are the targets for Vietnam tourism in 2022?
Deputy Minister Doan Van Viet: In the “normal” year of 2019, we attracted over 18 million international visitor arrivals. China, South Korea, and Japan are our biggest markets. We have aimed to attract 5 million international visitor arrivals in 2022, rebuilding from “zero” in 2021, during Covid-19 era. In the first 8 months of 2022, we welcomed over 1.2 million international arrivals and promptly exceeded the target for the domestic tourism market, welcoming the total of 79.8 million international arrivals so far. It is expected to have a full recovery for domestic tourism in 2022.
MTCO: Is there any highlight or focus in Viet Nam’s 2022-2023 tourism promotional campaigns?
Deputy Minister Doan Van Viet: From 15th March 2022, Vietnam has fully reopened for tourism. Vietnam is now one of the four countries in the Asia-Pacific region restoring international tourism activities without travel restrictions. Promoting the media campaign “Live fully in Vietnam” to attract international visitors back to Vietnam. The marketing plan for Vietnam tourism in 2022 - 2023 is to image Vietnam as a safe, friendly and hospitable country to the world, in which, smart and sustainable tourism development followed by green and responsible travel as the core.
MTCO: What a role does Quang Nam province play in Viet Nam’s tourism marketing plans?
Deputy Minister Doan Van Viet: It is an increasingly important gear in our tourism cluster strategy. Quang Nam together with Da Nang, Thua Thien Hue will be one of the clusters in the Central of Vietnam. The Visit Vietnam Year 2022 was chosen to be held in Quang Nam with the theme of Green destination for a reason of its promising potential, a visitor-friendly destination with natural resources and wonderful coastline. It offers a vibrant culinary scene, countless cultural attractions, and a diverse history, Hoi An Ancient Town in particular. For those who are seeking a sustainable travel experience where you can learn as well as appreciate nature, Quang Nam is home to productive farms, handicraft villages, rivers, mountains, and unspoiled natural attractions.
MTCO: Which new tourism-related infrastructure projects will improve the tourism sector in Vietnam?
Deputy Minister Doan Van Viet: We have a lot going on, much of it guided by the Viet Nam Tourism Development Strategy to 2030, which clearly defines our goal in developing modern and holistic infrastructure, especially transport infrastructure in tourism clusters, national tourist sites and areas with tourism potential. We are taking an inclusive approach to tourism infrastructure development, which focuses not only on international-class tourism destinations, such as Hoi An, Sapa, Ha Long, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc,… but also on secondary tourism destinations, especially ones with potential to connect to regional tourism network.
Regarding the GMS cooperation, for the last 20 years, Vietnam has continuously participated in 04 regional tourism infrastructure development projects sponsored by ADB, among which the latest is The Second GMS Tourism Infrastructure for Inclusive Growth Project. These projects were designed to improve the accessibility to secondary tourism destinations in provinces along GMS economic corridors as well to enhance the environment conditions and urban infrastructure for tourism development.
MTCO: What to be expected for the positive outcomes from the Mekong Tourism Forum 2022?
Deputy Minister Doan Van Viet: We are looking forward to 3 aspects to turn out successfully. First and foremost is to strengthen linkages between the leaders of the Sub-region's tourism industry to rapidly recover the tourism industry in a sustainable, resilient and comprehensive way, to promote the Sub-region's tourism into a common destination. Second of all is to introduce the city of Hoi An voted by The World’s Best Awards as one of the 25 best cities in the world and Quang Nam in Central Vietnam as ideal destinations for green and sustainable tourism, rich in cultural values, full of amenities of a top-class beach resort. Last but not least, the Forum demonstrates the recovery of the tourism industry, the return of sellers and buyers in the Sub-Region after a period of hiatus, promoting a rapid recovery of international tourism and creating sustainable tourism supply and demand.
MTCO: What message do you want to send out for tourism leaders and delegates attending the Forum?
Deputy Minister Doan Van Viet: We should focus on practical goals that make the travel and tourism industry better for the benefit of our populations. What I’d like to convey here is “Let’s act together for sustainable tourism growth”, so I hope all delegates arrive in a positive state of mind to listen, learn and return home motivated to “Rebuild Tourism, Rebound with Resilience” - which is also the theme of the Forum./.
Source: International Cooperation Department (VNAT)