Vietnam’s outlook for tourism in 2012 slow but positive.
The tourism industry will continue to grow in 2012, but at only a slight rate due to global recession and poor government marketing strategies.
The tourism industry marks some important achievements in 2011. The number of tourists visiting Vietnam reached 6 millions in 2011. We have more heritage sites awaiting international recognition, andmore celebrities continue to visit the country. Also, Vietnam officially accepted the designation of Ha Long Bay as one of the New 7 Natural Wonders of the World. Ha Long Bay will continue to be a major attraction despite some safety issues. Many new luxury branded hotels recently opened or are set to open soon, and Vietnam is emerging as a top luxury destination in Asia.
Vietnam tourism has a new slogan and logo: “Timeless charm from 2012-2015.” The infrastructure is getting better, with roads and airports having been upgraded or newly built in 2011, including Phu Bai Airport and Danang International Airport. Further, Vietjet Air scheduled its first commercial flights in December, while Vietnam Airlines launched direct flights to London and Air Asia now links Kul to Danang.
All of the above are very encouraging, and Vietnam’s outlook for tourism in 2012 is positive. But, we should not simply be satisfied with an increasing number of tourists, andmust also look at the facts and identify potential weaknesses that might hinder sustainable growth for the tourism industry in Vietnam.
Tourism in the Central Highlands, northern Vietnam and the Mekong will decline slightly. Hanoi and HCMC will remain at current levels, but tourism in coastal areas will increase moderately. Central Vietnam still lacks some basic amenities that hinder filling rooms at many new properties.
Some destinations are experiencing worsening conditions, including increased crime, traffic accidents, drowning and pollution. The main areas affected include Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay, NhaTrang and Mui Ne. Despite an ongoing controversy, Vietnam will push forward with dams at the Cat Tien UNESCO Biosphere and encourage UNESCO to address the issue of serious degradation of the park.
Vietnam should focus on the quality of tourism and not just the number of inbound tourists, while also promoting better quality domestic travel experiences for the local population.
Better positioning, planning, forecasting and marketing through social media should be implemented, especially after the visits to Vietnam of celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Developing higher standards and human resources for the tourism industry in the long term should be the goal of Vietnam, which lacks sufficient numbers of quality decision makers, managers and tour guides.
Developing tourism with the protection of the environment in mind should be a major goal, while also remaining focused on quality destinations and product promotions. Our activities are not well coordinated between the national government and localities, and also the public and private sectors. We should have more joint promotional activities.
Further, we should create visas on arrival for all foreign visitors, as well as implement a better and more consistent tourist information network, while removing all unnecessary administrative barriers.
Vietnam apart from other destinations in the region according to Pham Ha, here is the 8 charms of Vietnam, VNAT should promotes them to international tourists.
1. Thrills, 2. wilderness, 3. heritage, 4. festival, 5. pristine, 6. enjoyment, 7. scenery, 8. essence,
1. Thrills:
The thrills offered are endless and span a wide range, including: hiking, trekking, biking, kayaking, climbing, rafting, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, hot air ballooning, camping, yachting and more. Some of the locations where these activities can be enjoyed include: Sapa, Halong Bay, Cu Lao Cham, the Central Highlands, the Mekong Delta, Phan Thiet, Con Dao, the Phu Quoc Islands and many more.
2. Wilderness and Nature:
The wilderness amazes, from the green beauty of the national parks, reserves and ramsars to the mountains, waterfalls, rivers, lakes and grottoes. Halong Bay is a new seven natural wonder of the world. Discover the natural allure of Vietnam by indulging in a wide array of accommodations, tour packages and attractions at places such as Mai Chau, Sapa, Ha Giang, Ba Be, Halong Bay, Phong Nha Ke Bang, the Central Highlands, Nam Cat Tien and many more.
3. Heritage
With its long history and unique way of life, Vietnam has a rich heritage. There are many interesting and diverse sites to be found around the country. In fact, Vietnam boasts 7 world natural and cultural heritage sites, not to mention many intangible heritages.
As of January 1, 2012, there are more than 3,000 relics and landscape areas classified as national heritage sites, including some very special national relics. Besides the two mentioned above, UNESCO recognized five world cultural heritage sites: the Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Ha Noi, the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty, the complex of Hue Monuments, Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary.
There are also six on the world intangible heritage list: Nha Nhac – Vietnamese Royal Court Music, the Space of Gong Culture in Central Highland, Quan Ho Bac Ninh folk songs, Ca Tru singing, Xoan singing of Phu Tho Province and the Giong Festival of Phu Dong and Soc Temples (Hanoi).
Last, but not least, there are two inclusions on the World Documentary Heritage list: the woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty and the stone steles in Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Hanoi).
4. Festivals:
Many colorful festivals can be enjoyed year round. The time after Tet Nguyen Dan (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) is especially exciting. Festivals include the Perfume Pagoda, Hung King, Kate, Lim and Giay Festivals, just to name a few.
5. Pristine:
Many pristine islands and beaches are to be found in this tropical country. Vietnam has 3620 km of coastline, with beautiful white sand beaches and world class resorts. Of these, you should not miss the stunning sand and clear waters of My Khe, Cua Dai, Nha Trang, Ninh Van Bay, Quy Nhon, Mui Ne, Vung Tau, Phu Quoc and the Con Dao Islands.
6. Enjoyment:
Holidaymakers have the choice of new and trendy boutique hotels, spas, golfing, cruises, shopping centres, restaurants and nightlife. With new luxury hotels and world class golf courses having recently opened or set to open soon, and the introduction of luxury train journeys, exclusive cruises and upscale private tours spanning the length of the country, Vietnam is fast emerging as an exciting destination in Asia.
7. Scenery:
Spectacular scenery and a diverse landscape exist from North to South. Mountains, forests, nature reserves, rivers, beaches, and islands are all here to be enjoyed. Verdant patchworks of rice paddies and pointed lampshade-style hats are just a small part of what there is to be seen in this formerly war ravaged country. Visitors will see more than the economic repression often portrayed on worldwide television and in newspapers. There is also natural beauty, a harmonious array of ethnic cultures, imperial monuments, timeless traditional villages, idyllic sea resorts and dynamic cities.
8. Essence:
Vietnam boasts scores of traditions, lifestyles and religions. The friendly and hospitable population has been influenced by the cultures of China, France and America, and this is reflected in the country’s lifestyle, architecture, cuisine and art.
Pham Ha, Founder and CEO of Luxury Travel which is the first luxury tour operator and DMC in Vietnam operating in Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand . Opened in 2004, the Luxury Travel Company Limited has its own offices, luxury vehicles, luxury travel advisors, and serves thousands of high-end travelers every year, while experiencing 30% growth annually. The company’s depth of experience and large infrastructure enable it to create unique itineraries with the operational confidence to fulfill client expectations. Luxury Travel Ltd has won numerous travel awards for excellent performance, including the most recent award: “Best Luxury Tour Operator in Vietnam
Visit www.luxurytravelvietnam.com.
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