The inaugural Vietnam Travel and Tourism Summit 2018 kicks off in Hanoi

The inaugural Vietnam Travel and Tourism Summit 2018 kicks off in Hanoi

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 Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien, 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 analysing 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 trainings, attracting domestic and foreign investments, enhancing regional competitiveness, promoting Vietnam’s tourism industry and making use of technology in tourism and service management.

The next session on December 6 will focus on the theme Making Tourism a Spearhead Economic Sector of Vietnam and will 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 will 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.

It is expected that between seven and 10 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 are the deals between Malaysia’s AirAsia and Thien Minh Group on low-cost airline service development in Vietnam, and between AirAsia and TUI Hotels and Resorts on a hotel and resort complex in Quang Nam province. Moreover, Hanoi People’s Committee and the CNN plan to sign an agreement on the promotion of Hanoi and Vietnam on CNN international networks.