Tourism to be Vietnam’s key economic industry, says official

Tourism will be Vietnam’s key industry by 2020, a government minister said.

Minister Hoang Anh Tuan

Minister of Cultures, Sports and Tourism, Hoang Anh Tuan, said in a report about objectives and development strategy, that in their master plan, tourism would be the key economic sector by 2020.

The report, submitted to the National Assembly, gave a goal of 11.5-12% annual growth for the period 2011-2020, with 7.5 million international tourist arrivals and 37 million domestic tourists. Total revenue from the tourism sector would reach USD11 billion, contributing 6% of GDP, with the sector creating 2.2 million jobs.

In 2020, the number of international and domestic tourists must reach 10.5 million and 48 million respectively. Total revenue from tourism would reach USD19 billion and the sector would create 3 million jobs. In 2030, total revenue from tourism sector would double that of 2020.

Tuan said the country was on the right track as Vietnam had 5.7 million international tourists and 48.8 million domestic tourists in the first nine months of 2015, and projections indicated 2020 targets might be reached by 2017.

However, according to NA’s Verification Committee, the tourism sector still had many challenges to overcome, such as weak infrastructure and a lack of diversified offerings. Skilled human resource and quality services are problems that need to be addressed. Promotional campaigns to sell Vietnam to the world had so far been unattractive and inefficient.

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