The government’s VND 25 billion (US $1.47 million) for tourism promotion has not been allocated yet while the opportunities for advertising the “Impressive Vietnam” campaign is passing, said a senior official.

In the context of the global economic crisis, the tourism industry has been hit hard. In early January 2009, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) launched the campaign called “Impressive Vietnam.” Under this campaign many discount local tours will be introduced to attract foreign visitors.

The Government decided to provide VND 25 billion from the Fund for Trade and Tourism Investment Promotion to this campaign. However, the capital has not been allocated to the tourism industry yet, said Nguyen Manh Cuong, VNAT’s Vice Chief.

Cuong said to advertise the “Impressive Vietnam” abroad, VNAT has to borrow money from various donors.

“Expenditures for a fair in Spain, Germany, and Australia are very costly. Hiring stalls at a tourism exhibition in Germany costs us VND 1 billion (US $58,800),” said Cuong.

Advertising “Impressive Vietnam” on CNN in Europe, USA, and Australia, some local channels in China, NHK in Japan, and KBS in South Korea, as well as organizing survey tours for journalist and travel agents have not been held yet due to the shortage of funding.

The Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, La Quoc Khanh, said it is needed an open financial mechanism to timely advertise Vietnamese tourism, otherwise Vietnam will miss the chance.

The director of Hanoitourist, a large travel firm in Vietnam, Luu Duc Ke, said because of the fall of foreign tourists to Vietnam, his company is very careful with overseas tourism promotion programs. Some provinces and travel companies are trying to advertise themselves abroad but they have to beg airlines and hotels to reduce fees.

In the last two months, the number of foreign visitors to Vietnam fell by 10% year on year.

VietNamNet/VNE