In renovating the thinking on the development of tourism, documents from the 6^th to 10^th Party Congresses and the resolutions of plenum sessions of the Party’s Central Committee and the Government have clearly defined that tourism is an important part of the socio-economic development strategy, that has high degree of socialization. Therefore, tourism development is the responsibility of all branches, administrative levels, and mass and social organizations. Tourism development is a strategic orientation in the socio-economic development guidelines of the Party and State. This was a result of theoretical studies and the review of tourist operation in the domestic and international markets, and an important guideline for the development of Vietnamese tourism in recent years.

Thanks to a renovation in thinking, tourist operation has witnessed comprehensive change. Mechanisms and policies for tourism development have been adopted to create a favorable environment for tourism development. The 2001-2010 tourism development strategy and the master plan of tourism development for 1995-2010 were approved by the Prime Minister. The development plans for 3 regions and key tourist places were worked out. 58 provinces and central cities have prepared tourism development plans. These plans are being adjusted, according to requirements of reality and trends.

Guidelines and policies for tourism development of our Party and State are institutionalized into laws and sub-laws. The Law on Tourism, the most important legal document governing tourist operation, was enacted by the 7^th Meeting of the National Assembly (XI Tenure), and came into force on January 1, 2006. The Ordinance on immigration, residence and travel, and other related documents are being reviewed and revised by relevant ministries and agencies. Procedures on immigration, residence, travel and customs are being continuously improved. Unilateral and bilateral visa exemption are adopted for citizens of Japan, Republic of Korea, 4 Nordic countries and Asean member countries. Tourists find it easier to come to Vietnam than before. With adequate legal documents, tourist businesses enjoy favorable operational and managerial environments.

The 2000-2005 National Action Plan on tourism has been effectively carried out and induced multi-faceted changes in product development, propaganda, increase of awareness, transformation into concrete actions, improvement of tourist management, tourist human resources training and education of people about tourism. Images of Vietnamese tourism have been established, consolidated and constantly increased in both the domestic and international markets. The National Action Plan on tourism for 2006-2010 is under consideration.

After 20 years of renovation, tourism has attracted increasing resources to its development, especially tourist infrastructure and human resources. Over the past 5 years, the State has invested VND 2,146 billion of the budget in tourist infrastructure. This "seed" capital has been used effectively and in accordance with set objectives, and helped provinces and central cities attract thousands of billions VND for infrastructure of tourism. Due attention is given to socio-economic conditions and the infrastructure of open economic zones and key economic regions to create tourism development potential. Thanks to these efforts, tourism infrastructure, especially guesthouses and hotels have quickly developed and are able to accommodate millions of domestic and international travelers and serve major events and international conferences. Tourist activities have been a good venue for the participation of all economic sectors. The tourism sector is being restructured and renovated to improve its competitiveness and effectiveness.

Training of tourist human resources has improved. Training premises, teaching staff, training curriculum, textbooks and methodology were renewed. Great importance is attached to scientific and technological research and application. The above-mentioned efforts and progress have contributed to the development of tourist staff, which is increasing in number and quality.

The effectiveness of tourism is clearly reflected in various aspects. In areas where tourism develops, the environment appears more attractive and people are better off. The spillover effects of tourist activities to other branches and regions are very strong and creates opportunities for the sales of local goods and services which, in turn, promotes the development of other industries and branches. Each year, dozens of traditional festivities have been restored, and their activities are increasingly better organized. Traditional habits and customs are being promoted. Many handicraft villages have been revitalized and developed, and many of them have become tourist destinations. These villages produce and sell souvenirs and handicraft items to tourists. The revitalization of these handicraft villages create jobs and generates income for local people that helps transform economic structure across the countries and in each locality, and reduce poverty. Many households are better off thanks to tourist activities. The development of tourism has generated revenue needed for embellishment and restoration of historical relics and heightened the responsibility of State agencies, local authorities and communities to preserve and develop cultural heritage. Tourist propaganda and advertisements, both at home and abroad, have conveyed national cultural values to international friends and tourists, as well as people.

The more important matter is that tourism has contributed to the development of human resources in the course of renovation. Tourist activities have created more than 750,000 jobs for different people helping their knowledge, material and spiritual lives, expanding exchange between regions across the country and other nations. Tourism has successfully fulfilled its role as the people’s diplomat-offering peace and enhancing a favorable environment for an open economy, and socio-economic development. Tourism also played an important role in courting international support and concurrence for national construction and defence.

From the state of having no place in the international arena, Vietnamese tourism has moved forward and actively participated in international tourist integration through the establishment and expansion of multi-faceted tourist cooperation with neighboring and regional nations and other countries in the world. 27 bilateral tourist cooperation agreements were signed with other countries which are important tourist markets and international exchange centres. Vietnamese tourism has trading relations with 1,000 firms in 60 countries and territories. Vietnam tourism is a member of the World Tourist Organization, the Asian-Pacific Tourist Association, and the East and South Asian Tourist Association. We have also signed the multilateral tourist cooperation agreement between 10 ASEAN countries. We also actively participate in tourism cooperation both regionally and globally. Thanks to these actions, we have been able to attract capital, experience, technology and travelers for the development and integration of Vietnamese tourism. Our activeness in integration is also reflected in the use of comparative advantages (culture, cuisine, materials and cheap labor etc), and investment in neighboring countries such as Japan, Germany and the United States.

The above-mentioned efforts and results have created new driving forces and strength for Vietnamese tourism. The number of foreign travelers and overseas Vietnamese coming to Vietnam and Vietnamese tourists visiting foreign countries is increasing. From 1986 to 1990, the number of foreign travelers and Vietnamese tourists were negligible. From 1990 to 2000, there was a clear increase in the number of travelers and revenue. The number of travelers increased 9 times, from 250,000 in 1990 to 2.05 million in 2000. Domestic travelers increased 11 times, from 1 million in 1990 to 11 million in 2000. Revenue rose 13 times, from VND 1,350 billion in 1990 to VND 17,400 billion. From 2001 to 2005, despite a number of factors have negatively impacted the growth of tourism such as wars, terrorism, SARS and bird flue. However measures have been applied to further accelerate the growth of tourism. As a result, the number of travelers and revenue have kept rising. Foreign travelers rose from 2.33 million in 2001 to 3.43 million in 2005. Domestic tourists increased from 11 million in 2001 to 16.1 million in 2005.

The development of tourism has contributed to the increase of services ratio in GDP (currently tourism accounts for 4% of the national GDP. If using WTO calculations, the share of tourism in GDP increases to 9%). Tourism is one of the few sectors in Vietnam that can generate more than USD 2 billion in revenue per annum. More than 10 years ago, Vietnamese tourism was at the lowest rank in the region. Now it has surpassed the Philippines and only stands after Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. According to WTO, currently Vietnam is one of the countries with the highest tourism growth rate in the region and the world. In 2004, the World Travel and Tourism Council ranked Vietnamese tourism’s growth rate 7^th out of 174 countries.

Over 20 years of renovation, Vietnamese tourism has made great leaps in both strategic and static levels, and accomplished tasks and objectives defined by the Party and State. Tourist activities were very active and attained great progress, but social security and order were still maintained. The gap of development with regional countries was narrowed. The effects of tourist development can be seen in many ways. Tourism has created a great number of employment, generated high added value and revenue for the country, and significantly contributed to the transformation of economic structure, the renewal process and international integration. Vietnamese tourism is further developing.

The above-mentioned outstanding successes stemmed from various reasons. The first is in the recent years, the global situation changed significantly with great progresses in science and technology. The knowledge economy has played an increasingly fundamental role in developing productive forces. Globalization is an objective trend and the number of countries participating in it are increasing. Peace, cooperation and development remain a major trend reflecting the aspiration and demand of nations. In this context, tourist demand strongly increases. Tourist activities in the world are developing and shifting to the East Asian and Pacific region, especially South East Asia. This is a valuable opportunity for the development of Vietnamese tourism.

With regard to subject reason, the open, renewal and integration policies of our Party and State and achievements attained have created favorable conditions for the development of tourism. The improved legal system has prepared a better legal basis for tourist activities. The National Steering Committee on Tourism efficiently coordinated tourist activities at various levels. Concerned agencies and ministries timely solved hindrances to tourist activities. The National Action Plan for Tourism has been effectively carried out which created prerequisites and qualitative large scale changes. Inter-agency and inter-regional cooperation have induced changes in the thinking of administrative levels, branches and people that have brought into full play internal resources, encouraged economic sectors to participate in tourist activities, and attracted international assistance to improve Vietnamese tourism.

The State has attached a great importance to the construction and improvement of socio-economic infrastructure to fully exploit the country’s tourist potentials, expand inter-regional exchange, and develop tourist hubs. People have become better off, which has led to a robust increase in domestic tourism. The stable political situation, good security, and new destinations for international travelers, as well as abundant tourist potential are necessary and sufficient conditions for the development of Vietnamese tourism.

The inheritance of a 45-year tradition and efforts to overcome difficulties and challenges, the creativeness of cadres in the tourist branch across 64 provinces and central cities, changes in the cadres’ thinking and action, the adaptation to the new mechanism and integration into the global tourism have greatly contributed to the above-mentioned achievements. The support of the people has played a pivotal role in the socialization of tourism development.

Although achieving the above-mentioned results, the number of travelers and revenue attained by tourism were still lower than in other regional countries. The organization and personnel were not compatible with there role, and political tasks as a spearhead industry. Development policy still faces a number of constraints. Programming and its management need more attention to address pending issues. Investments in infrastructure, propaganda and training human resources were only able to meet part of the branch’s development needs. The quality of tourist products and services and their competitiveness remain low. These limitations need to be urgently addressed to ensure a high pace and sustainable development.

In the years to come, Vietnamese tourism will still be a spearhead industry. Its quality and efficiency will be increased due to making good use of available advantages and natural and ecological conditions, cultural and historical traditions. Satisfying domestic tourist needs and developing international tourist activities in order to achieve development to the regional level. The development of tourism from 2006 to 2010 is considered a breakthrough for economic transformation, further attraction of foreign currency and reduction of the development gap between Vietnam and other countries, as well as international integration. Based on this strategic direction, Vietnamese tourism aims to develop to the regional top level by 2020. By 2010 it will receive 5.5-6 million international travelers, 3 times more than 2000 with an average growth rate of 11.4% per year, and accommodate 25 million domestic travelers, twice that of 2000. Tourist revenue will reach USD 4-4.5 billion, or about 6.5% of national GDP (about 14% according to WTO calculations.

To achieve the said targets, tourism should make critical changes to following aspects: continue to improve its mechanism, policy and laws on tourist activities develop tourist products, enhance propaganda and advertisements, and promote investments in the tourist industry. It should streamline its organizational apparatus and attach great importance to human resources development, applying scientific and technological achievements, preserve, restore and develop tourist resources and environment. It should actively expand international cooperation, carrying out specific projects in strategic areas in order to quickly and sustainably develop tourist activities in the North, Central and South regions. Based on the advantages, tourist potentials and development conditions of each region. It should develop typical tourist products for each region and the whole country that are capable of competing with other countries and will help attract international tourists.

Investment in tourism is development investment. Thus investment from the State budget in tourism should be increased to make it a spearhead industry. We should strongly attract foreign investment and mobilize capital from people and economic sectors to build 4 national general tourist complex and 18 subject-base tourist parks, and refurbish and upgrade tourist cities and towns. Priority should also be given to constructing transport infrastructure, and improving immigration procedures at international border gates to foster tourist demands; Also to strengthening capability and effectiveness of State management on tourist activities from central to local level; and developing human resources for tourism in both structure, quality and quantity. These measures should be jointly carried out from the central to local level, with the participation of society and tourism playing the dominant role.

Under the leadership of the Party, the direction of the Government and the National Steering Committee on Tourism, with the constant cooperation of branches and localities, appropriate steps and high determination, and enough resources, the efforts made by the tourism branch, the vivid development background over the past 20 years, the streamlining of organizational apparatus and strong State management of tourist activities, Vietnamese tourism will develop more efficiently and at a higher pace, and attain greater achievements so as to make our country an important tourist center in the region.

Vo Thi Thang

Source: www.tapchicongsan.org.vn