New Vietnam tourism head outlines ambitious plans
14:47 04/03/2009

  Director General Hoang Tuan Anh   The new head of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has unveiled his plans to attract more tourists to the country in a wide-ranging discussion.

Director General Hoang Tuan Anh, who took over two weeks ago, has placed four key proposals before the Government – scrapping value added tax on products foreign tourists buy; hiring foreign companies to promote Vietnamese tourism; waiving visas for nationals of more countries; and developing caravan tourism.

He also wants to make a slight change to the tourism sector’s slogan, changing it to ‘Vietnam, the hidden charms’ from the present ‘…hidden charm’, explaining that the country has many charms.

The biggest obstacle to the development of tourism was the shortage of human resources rather than inadequate infrastructure, he said.

“The tourism industry workers are not trained professionally and advertising and promotion are poor.”

More hotels, better service

By 2010 the country will need 170,000 three- and five-star rooms to serve the increasing number of foreign tourists.

It now has 42,000 rooms which meet only 70 to 80 percent of demand.

Anh said the country was trying to get more investors to build hotels, especially in major tourist hubs like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hue, Danang, Phu Quoc, Quang Ninh.

VNAT plans to improve personnel training and force tourism companies to reform in the context of the country’s integration into the global community.

Anh revealed there were plans to chase away beggars pestering foreign tourists, especially in tourist sites.

Improved advertising

In 2006-2010 the country would spend about VND121 billion (US$7.55 million) on tourism advertising, he said. This compares with the $60 million neighboring Malaysia spends annually.

Vietnam would possibly adopt the Singapore model in which tourist agencies contribute to the advertising kitty $1 per foreign tourist they host, Anh said.

If this happens Vietnam will have $4 million for advertising.

Source: Tuoi Tre – Compiled by Luu Thi Hong

Source : thanhniennews.com