Vietnam Tourism Targets US$4.5 Bln Turnover by 2010

The Ministry of Culture, Sport, and Tourism has launched an action program for the tourism sector in an effort to post the tourism turnover of between US$4 billion and US$4.5 billion by 2010 and turn the industry into one of leading tourism sectors in the region by 2020, state media said recently.

 

The program follows the government’s action plan for the 2007-2012 period with Vietnam’s WTO accession.

 

The program will set tasks for the state’s tourism management agencies and tourism businesses to further develop the tourism sector and to fulfill the targets set in the national tourism development strategy during the 2001-2010 period.

 

Vietnam welcomed 3.2 million international tourists in the first nine months, up 18 per cent on year. The country will strive to welcome between 5.5 million and six million foreign tourists by 2010, an annual average growth rate of 11.4 per cent.

 

The country has five natural and cultural world heritage sites recognized by UNESCO, including the complex of Hue monuments, Hoi An ancient town, the My Son sanctuary, Ha Long bay, and the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. It also boasts other world intangible heritages, namely the Tay Nguyen gong culture in addition to Hue royal music.

 

The tourism industry now contributes 8 per cent to Vietnam’s national GDP. (VietNamNet)