Lookatvietnam – The tourism industry must join together to develop a tourism network, Deputy Minister of Culture, Tourism and Sports Tran Chien Thang told Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Economic Times) newspaper.

To attract more foreign tourists, I think we should focus efforts on producing diverse and attractive tourism products that reflect the special characteristics of each locality and on improving service quality. When visitors feel happy with the services they receive, there is a possibility they will come back.

Do you mean good quality services should be our top priority?

Good quality services are comprised of several factors, including smiling faces from providers and good hygiene and sanitation practices.

I think the nation’s image is expressed by all citizens, particularly people working in the tourism sector. These people need to attend special training on hospitality.

What’s the ministry’s role in the campaign to attract more visitors?

The ministry’s role is to create conditions for the tourism industry to develop.

In addition, the ministry helps the sector promote tourism inside and outside Viet Nam.

The ministry will assign provincial departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism to work closely with local administrators to develop detailed plans on tourism.

At the central level, the ministry has launched two programmes, the National Tourism Action Plan, which aims to support Viet Nam tourism abroad, and a new national programme to improve tourism infrastructure.

I have to say that, so far, the first programme has not achieved expected results due to a lack of funds.

The Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism will try to combine various sources, including organising culture and sports exchanges to promote tourism.

This is the first time we have had a programme (tourism infrastructure) implemented nationwide. Was this a new initiative by the tourism industry?

I don’t think so. I think it is the right opportunity for the industry to materialise the dream of enterprises involved in the tourism industry.

Will you please further explain the importance of joining efforts to create a Viet Nam tourism trade mark?

When Viet Nam opened its doors to the outside world, tourism services became a lucrative industry for almost everyone. As a result, the industry was just like an orchestra without a conductor and the competition between service providers in tourist attraction places became unhealthy.

So in order to build a Viet Nam tourism trade mark, we need to have co-responsibility from all people and entities involved in the industry.

It is high time for us to set up a network to build and develop the tourism industry together.

In 2009, Viet Nam has set a target to welcome 4.5 million foreign visitors. How did you arrive at this figure?

There were two key factors. First, Viet Nam has many tourist attractions from north to south and the number of foreign visitors to the country in recent years keeps increasing.

Second, Viet Nam’s investment climate is rather stable. Investment commitment by foreign countries this year is almost the same as that in 2008.

These are well-grounded reasons for us to come up with a target of having 4.5 million foreign tourists in 2009. I am convinced the figure is within reach.

(Source: Viet Nam News)