VOV: How is Vietnam’s tourism sector contributing to the year of APEC?

Ms Thang: APEC is a great event for our nation and tourism sector and also actively contributes to create a fine image of Vietnam. First, the sector will organise the APEC Ministerial Meeting in October. Currently, we are preparing necessary requirements for the meeting. Vietnam proposed an important initiative that the country makes the tourism sector a priority for APEC 2006. This offers opportunities for Vietnam to take advantage of support from member economies for the country’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). APEC will offer the best opportunity to advertise and introduce the images, tourism products and impressions of Vietnam.

VOV: Many foreign investors want to invest in the country’s tourism sector. For important and major projects which need approval from the National Assembly, do foreign investor worry much about the formalities?

Ms Thang: In recent time, foreign-invested enterprises have invested US$5 billion in Vietnam’s tourism sector and they encountered difficulties in investment formalities. The NA often considers, inspects and monitors major projects to avoid losses. For ODA projects, supervision work has not been conducted well. The important thing is to reduce cumbersome formalities to facilitate the activities of foreign investors.

VOV: To develop a sustainable tourism sector, what do we have to do?

Ms. Thang: For a country with great potential like Vietnam, it is necessary to boost promotion tourism programmes to help international friends learn about Vietnam’s land and its people. Compared to many countries in the world, there is a big gap in conducting tourism promotion programmes and investing in training human resources. This is a serious for the sector. In recent years, there have great advances in investing in tourism promotion programmes in our country. When the sector develops rapidly, highly qualified staff are required to ensure sustainable development. Currently, we are facing a shortage of human resources, which needs special attention from the State in the future. Besides, it is necessary to implement synchronised measures to solve issues relating to planning, and tourism strategies.

VOV: The WTO highly values Vietnam’s MICE (Meeting, Incentives, Conference and Exhibition) tourism potential. What are the tourism sector’s development orientations in this field?

Ms Thang: Vietnam’s MICE tourism potential is great. However, we have not yet fully tapped this potential. Boosting MICE tourism requires good technical and material conditions. Nevertheless, the country’s technical and material conditions are not comprehensive. MICE tourism needs a closed destination for a conference venue, and accommodation and entertainment activities. Accordingly, it is essential to build a perfect tourism resort. Good venues for MICE tourism include Hanoi, HCM City, Nha Trang and the central region. In fact, the tourism sector has not paid proper attention to this field.

Some provinces and businesses have focused on developing this kind of tourism and it is expected that MICE tourism will enjoy more favourable conditions in such a political stable country like Vietnam.

VOV: Could you elaborate on international tourism co-operation, particularly among regional countries?

Ms Thang: One of the advantages that we need to make use of is the East-West Corridor and tourism between the Southeast Asian nations through roads and waterways. We will boost co-operation in the Mekong sub-region, the Mekong Greater sub-region, the Mekong sub-region and the Ganga River, as well as tripartite co-operation among Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, and among Vietnam-Laos and Thailand. This co-operation aims to utilise the East-West Corridor and attract more foreign visitors to Vietnam.

VOV: Thank you very much.

Source: VOV news