In the morning of January 5, 2009, in Hanoi, General Department of Tourism held a press conference about solutions for increasing the number of international tourists international tourists to Vietnam.
Mr. Tran Chien Thang, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Director of General Department of Tourism chaired the meeting report. Attending the conference also reported Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Deputy Director of General Department of Tourism, Mr. Vu The Binh, from Department of Tourism; leaders of Units of Tourism and many journalists, editors from local and central newspapers.
Because of negative impacts of global financial crisis for the world’s tourism in general and Vietnam’s tourism in particular, to block the declining, attract international visitors to Vietnam and promote domestic tourism, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has issued the Decision No.5476/QD-BVHTTDL on December 31, 2008 – Approval of the Action Programs of Tourism. Mr. Vu The Binh, from Department of Tourism, presented the major contents of the action program in order to attract international visitors and promote domestic tourism, including:
- The nationwide promotional tour. Announced a batch of 37 international travel companies, 61 hotels, 3 carriers, 14 shops to register for discounts from 30% to 50%, from now to September, 2009 with 99 tours.
- Broadcasting promotional campaign called “Vietnam Impressive”, with the participation of media in and outside the country, especially in key markets; General Department of Tourism has built a website for promotions to the domain: www.promotour.gov.vn; organized Famtrip and Presstrip groups for travel companies and foreign press to Vietnam.
- Establishing nine market groups, including international travel companies and Vietnam Airlines, with the participation of some hotels, restaurants and shops. This is the core for developing the promotion.
- Creating new tourism products. This is a long-term solution, to give favoured conditions for sustainable development of Vietnam’s tourism, as a base to attract international visitors and promote domestic tourism.
After the exchange and answering questions by journalists, Mr. Tran Chien Thang thanked the attention and encouragement from newspapers and radio reports for Vietnam’s tourism. In the spirit of connection, close cooperation between enterprises of tourism and service; administrative tourism in the central and locality, active support from newspapers and radio reports, Vietnam’s tourism strives to restore the growth of visitors in 2009 and in the coming time.