Moving in the right direction, but not there yet

Moving in the right direction, but not there yet

Moving in the right direction

According to the Hanoi Tourism Department, the capital city is expected to welcome more than 25.4 million visitors in 2018 for total estimated revenues of VND75.783 trillion. Of the total, some 5.5 million are foreigners and 19.9 million domestic visitors.

Foreign visitors to Hanoi come from nearly 190 countries and territories, including Western Europe, Australia, North America, Eastern Europe, Northeast Asia and more. China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, France, the US, the UK, Germany, Australia, Thailand, Chinese-Taipei, Malaysia, Singapore and Canada account for most of the visitors to the city. China, the Republic of Korea and Japan are currently the largest visitor-generating markets for Hanoi’s tourism.

In addition to an increase in the number of tourists, Hanoi’s tourism infrastructure has improved. Currently, Hanoi has 3,546 tourist accommodation establishments with a total of 60,516 rooms.

During the decade of Hanoi’s administrative boundary expansion, the capital’s tourism has grown significantly due to the availability of more tours and routes. Hanoi has developed new tourism products and created tours linking popular attractions and other destinations both at home and abroad, contributing to ensuring tourism development meeting the potential, and striving to make tourism a spearhead economic sector.

According to Vietnam’s master plan and strategy for tourism development, Hanoi’s tourism sector is moving in the right direction. The tourism market is constantly expanding, while the number of tourists is increasing and tourism products are increasingly diversified. In addition, mechanisms and policies for tourism development have been completely synchronized, creating favorable conditions for tourists and travel agencies.

Meeting development requirements

Tourism is considered one of the driving forces for socioeconomic development in the capital city. It has contributed to creating jobs, improving residents’ living conditions, developing craft villages, and raising the position of Hanoi in the region and the world. Although it is moving in the right direction, Hanoi has not met its potential. In addition, economic efficiency remains low, while tourism revenues are not as high as they could be. In particular, there are many complaints about environmental hygiene and vendors harassing and overcharging tourists, creating a negative impact on the capital’s tourism.

Tran Duc Hai, director of the Hanoi Tourism Department, said Hanoi is aiming at comprehensive tourism development in terms of both scale and quality. The capital’s tourism is expected to be a spearhead economic sector by 2020, with a high growth rate, and modern and synchronous tourism infrastructure. Hanoi will make greater efforts to diversify its tourism products, and turn the capital city into a safe, friendly, and attractive destination.

According to the plan, Hanoi will strive to welcome 27.83 million tourists in 2019, an increase of 10 percent compared to a year ago, among them 6.33 million foreigners and 21.5 million domestic visitors, a year-on-year increase of 15.09 percent and 7.99 percent, respectively. The number of three-to five-star hotels is expected to increase to 85, while more modest hotels are estimated to number 570. Total tourism revenues are forecast to reach VND81.813 trillion, an increase of eight percent compared to a year ago. The average occupancy rate of hotels and tourist accommodation establishments is expected to stand at 60-65 percent.

To achieve the goals, Hanoi will continue to conduct surveys and analyses to evaluate the impact of the tourism sector on the city’s socioeconomic development in order to provide support and overcome difficulties for businesses, organizations and individuals involved in tourism development, promote investment in high-end tourism projects, and strengthen training of human resources.

The Hanoi Tourism Department is coordinating with other departments, agencies and localities to build and develop unique and quality tourism products, and complete infrastructure to promote tourism development.

Hoa Quynh

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