Politburo taps tourism as spearhead economic sector

A fishing village in Phú Vang District of Huế City. The tourism sector is set to become a spearhead economic sector by  二0 二0. VNA/VNS Photo Hồ Cầu.

HÀ NỘI – The Politburo on Monday issued a resolution on developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector by  二0 二0, contributing  一0 per cent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), up from the current  六. 八 per cent

According to the resolution signed by Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, the tourism industry set records in  二0 一 六, with international arrivals up by two million from  二0 一 五.

Total revenues have surged by VNĐ 六 二 trillion (US$ 二. 七 六 billion). Both tourist numbers and revenues reached the targets set for  二0 二0 four years earlier than expected.

The sector’s development has also contributed greatly to the conservation of the country’s culture heritage and natural resources, as well as improved the living standards of many Vietnamese.

However, the development of the sector has not reached its full potential, the resolution said. The sector’s products have not been sufficiently attractive and distinctive, the quality of tourism services has been limited while the state management has not been effective.

Human resources are another weakness, with tourism firms being mainly small and medium size, with limited experience.

Intersector coordination was still ineffective, the resolution also said.

The Politburo, thus, aims to develop tourism into one of the country’s key economic sectors, attracting  一 七 to  二0 million visitors by  二0 二0. Tourism revenues are expected to reach US$ 三 五 billion, and four million new jobs are forecast.

In order to realise these goals, the resolution sets out several tasks.

Among them is the need to prioritise the development of the tourism infrastructure and develop highly attractive and distinctive products. Certain provinces and cities with potential and strengths in tourism sector will have to build their own projects.

The resolution also calls on relevant agencies to continue to improve the legal systems and policies to facilitate the development of the tourism sector. State agencies need to adopt policies for investment in tourism, such as allocating budgets for human resources training and promotion activities.

Other measures touched upon by the resolution include investment in tourism infrastructure, building and promotion of activities; creating a favourable environment for tourism firms and developing tourism human resources. --VNS