More than 1,500 delegates, including leading local and international speakers, tourism managers, operators, and experts joined the Vietnam Travel and Tourism Summit 2018 under the framework of the Vietnam Economy Forum (ViEF) 2018 for a two-day meeting held on December 5 and 6. The event is expected to provide a platform to help boost the transformation of Vietnam’s tourism industry as well as to promote the image of Vietnam on the world travel map
The Vietnam Travel and Tourism Summit 2018 is co-organised by the Private Sector Development Board (Board IV under the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform), in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board (TAB).
Moderated by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Minister cum president of the Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Innovation Mai Tien Dung and Deputy Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism Le Quang Tung, the summit is the first state event organised for the purpose of providing tourism related parties with an opportunity to meet and participate in discussions. It focuses on three core contents, namely analyzing the current situation, evaluating opportunities and challenges for Vietnam’s tourism industry; specifying the orientation strategies and development objectives for 2018 – 2030; and providing businesses and investors with opportunities to participate in the development of Vietnam’s tourism industry.
This is a golden opportunity for domestic and foreign businesses to discuss and assess the situation of Vietnam’s tourism development, learn about the achievements and challenges facing local tourism, as well as to map out the strategies based on experience and lessons drawn from more developed nations. Reports and presentations will be delivered by TAB, Air Asia, the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG), amongst others.
At the first session entitled Potential Opportunities and Strategic Planning for Sustainable Development, leaders from MCST, TAB, domestic business operators and investors addressed the matters related to the situation and urgency of local tourism growth.
The main issues currently are the development of infrastructure and tourism features, high-quality human resources training, attracting domestic and foreign investments, enhancing regional competitiveness, promoting Vietnam’s tourism industry and making use of technology in tourism and service management.
The session on December 6 focused on the theme Making Tourism a Spearhead Economic Sector of Vietnam and would feature further discussions around the solutions and approach to improving tourism growth, the trend of tourism in the digital economy, and consulting upon the potentials and strengths of Vietnam’s tourism. Experts would make suggestions and give advice specific to the Vietnamese government and tourism related authorities in order to map out a practical and effective masterplan for the development of the industry.
There were around 5 contracts and memorandums of understanding (MOU) between foreign investors and local businesses will be signed on this occasion with total investment reaching $2 billion or higher.
Of particular note was the deal between Malaysia’s AirAsia and Thien Minh Group on low-cost airline service development in Vietnam.
Source: Vietnam Investment Review
