Vietnam wants tourism to contribute as much as 12% of GDP by 2030, backed by new tourism hubs, better infrastructure, higher-value visitors and a stronger nighttime economy.
General Secretary and President To Lam, on behalf of the Politburo, has signed Resolution No. 26 on developing tourism into a spearhead sector of Vietnam’s economy in the new era.
Hoi An Ancient Town. Photo: Hoang Ha
The Politburo affirmed that tourism is a broad-based economic sector with strong intersectoral, interregional and social links. It has the potential to generate substantial added value, stimulate consumption, expand service markets, create jobs, reshape the economic structure, preserve and promote cultural values and natural resources, and showcase Vietnam and its people to the world.
However, the sector’s development has yet to become truly sustainable or match the country’s potential, advantages and development needs.
The Politburo’s goal is to develop a high-quality, smart, green and innovative tourism industry rich in cultural identity and capable of generating high added value. The sector is expected to become more competitive regionally and internationally, create stronger spillover effects across other industries and fields, and serve as a driver of economic growth, innovation and sustainable development.
Another goal is to increase tourism’s contribution to economic growth while linking its development with cultural industries, helping promote the image of Vietnam and its people and strengthening the country’s standing, reputation and national soft power.
Vietnam aims to develop high-quality coastal and island resort tourism centers with international competitiveness, along with distinctive multi-service hubs combining tourism, shopping, cuisine and entertainment. Photo: Hoang Giam
By 2030, Vietnam aims for tourism to become a spearhead economic sector directly contributing 10-12% of GDP while maintaining its position among Southeast Asia’s leaders in terms of scale and growth.
The country aims to welcome 45-50 million international visitors and serve 160 million domestic travelers, with a particular focus on high-spending visitors and those staying for longer periods. Total tourism revenue is targeted at US$80-90 billion.
The three tourism growth poles of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang are expected to develop strongly, alongside 10 key tourism centers and 20 national tourism areas. Vietnam also aims to have 15 tourism groups and corporations with strong brands and international competitiveness, while providing about 1.5 million tourist accommodation rooms. The sector is expected to generate around 2.3 million direct jobs and 3.5 million indirect jobs.
By 2045, Vietnam aims to develop a modern and sustainable tourism industry that firmly establishes itself as a driving force of the economy, directly contributing 14-15% of GDP and placing the country among the world’s 30 most competitive tourism economies.
Vietnam is expected to become an attractive, high-quality and world-class destination with a distinctive identity, while seeking to welcome 70 million international visitors.
Vietnam plans to develop tourism products linked to its distinctive culinary culture and regional diversity, while building a network of Vietnamese restaurants meeting domestic and international standards. Photo: Vu Minh Quan
On solutions, the Politburo called for a fundamental shift in tourism development thinking — away from broad, volume-driven growth and the simple exploitation of resources toward a deeper model centered on quality, efficiency, sustainability and high added value, supported by creative products and distinctive experiences.
In improving the institutional framework, the Politburo called for breakthrough mechanisms and policies for emerging tourism models, including the sharing economy, digital-platform businesses, the nighttime economy, riverfront and coastal economies, and tourism-entertainment-cultural-sports complexes.
It also called for improvements to regulations governing value-added tax refunds at shopping malls, major tourism centers and eligible retail locations to encourage shopping tourism and increase visitor spending.
Another measure is to introduce supportive policies covering investment, land, finance, administrative procedures, taxes, fees, business premises and operations for high-quality tourism projects associated with healthcare, conferences, seminars, exhibitions, events, sports, shopping centers and nighttime entertainment in national tourism areas and tourism centers.
The Politburo called for further study of policies to make entry and exit more convenient for tourists, expand bilateral visa exemptions and introduce preferential visa policies for visitor segments capable of making significant contributions to tourism development.
It also called for simplified procedures governing accommodation and visits to border and island areas, as well as mandatory insurance requirements for international visitors to Vietnam.
Phu Quoc is envisioned by the Politburo as gradually becoming a new growth pole and an internationally competitive high-end coastal resort tourism center capable of attracting major international events. Photo: Hoang Giam
Notably, the Politburo proposed studying controlled pilot mechanisms to attract long-stay visitors, remote workers and international capital into the tourism and resort sectors.
The resolution also addresses pilot schemes for urgent issues that need to be implemented immediately to create breakthroughs in tourism development where no legal regulations currently exist or where measures different from existing rules are required, accompanied by mechanisms for control, inspection, supervision and post-implementation review.
As part of a broader package of measures to develop synchronized infrastructure and build highly competitive tourism centers, the Politburo outlined plans for high-quality coastal and island resort hubs capable of competing internationally.
It also called for distinctive, highly attractive multi-service tourism centers combining travel, shopping, cuisine and entertainment and operating throughout the day and night, including performing arts complexes, concert halls, festival streets and large-scale integrated entertainment venues.
The Politburo also proposed developing professional, international-standard outlet shopping centers offering discounted branded goods at major tourism centers, national tourism areas, international border gates, airports and seaports.
Tourism groups and corporations with strong brands should be further developed with investment, modern management capabilities and international competitiveness, enabling them to play a leading role in international travel services, destination management, domestic tourism platforms, integrated travel platforms, luxury tourism and the nighttime economy.
Vietnamnet.vn
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