Vietnam was ranked 87th among 124 nations in tourism competitiveness because of poor infrastructure and lack of tourist-friendly policies, according to a Pacific Asia Travel Association survey.
Peter A.Semone, deputy head of the association, said though its competitiveness rating was low, Vietnam’s safety and low cost for travelers were highly regarded.
Last year Vietnam earned $3 billion from tourism, compared to $17 billion for Malaysia and $13 billion for Thailand.
Switzerland was at the top of the list. Among Vietnam’s neighbors, Singapore was 8th, Malaysia 31st, and Thailand 43rd.
To date, Vietnam 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 country also has over 400 international and 10,000 domestic travel firms, more than 6,000 hotels, (2,575 of which are starred), totaling more than 72,458 rooms.
The tourism industry, contributing 8 per cent to the country’s GDP, is currently considered a key economic sector of Vietnam.
Vietnam welcomed 1.1 million foreign visitors in the first three months this year, a year-on-year increase of 13 per cent. (Local sources)
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