Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved a plan to restructure Vietnam's tourism industry to turn it into a spearhead economic sector for the country.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc approves plan to restructure the tourism sector. 

In addition, the plan also aims to promote the country and people of Vietnam, making Vietnam one of the leading destinations in Southeast Asia for visitors.

The plan sets a target of US$45 billion in tourism revenue by 2025, with exports through tourism reaching US$27 billion. The tourism sector is hoped to contribute over 10% to GDP and create six million jobs, including two million direct jobs. In addition, it is expected to receive 32 million inbound holidaymakers  and over 130 million visits by Vietnamese nationals by that time.

Specifically, the tourism packages will be revamped to be imbued with Vietnamese cultural identity and acquire world acclaimed brand name. Smart tourism will be applied widely, while Vietnamese tourism’s competitiveness is expected to be enhanced.

Earlier, speaking at the 2018 Vietnam Travel and Tourism Summit in Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said that travel agents should diversify tour packages and apply information technology aggressively. The government will focus on developing smart tourism with the shared responsibilities between businesses and state agencies, he added.

Dam wished that the tourism sector will take the lead in promoting Vietnam’s economic development, helping to raise the country’s rankings in terms of business environment and competitiveness.

The number of foreign holidaymakers to Vietnam in the 11 months of 2018 is estimated at 14.1 million, a 21.3% increase from the same period last year, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

In the 11 months of 2018, increases were recorded in the number of tourists from most markets, particularly South Korea (46.5%), China (26.9%), Taiwan (China) (15.6%), Thailand (14.3%), Malaysia (13.4%), Japan and Singapore (3.7%).

Hanoitimes