In the first half of 2022, the local tourism industry served 413,400 international and 60.8 million domestic tourists, exceeding the goal set for the whole year. 

The total revenue earned by the industry during this time was estimated at 265,000 billion VND. The absolute value of the above figures is still modest, but compared with the same period of 2021, we can see the efforts of the whole industry to achieve outstanding growth, contributing to creating momentum for a stronger recovery in the near future.  

Also, nearly 350 international travel service providers were licenced during this time, an increase of nearly 15 times compared to the same period in 2021.

This resurgence has partly compensated for the heavy losses and damage during the pandemic-hit period when the number of international travel agencies dropped sharply from 2,656 in 2019 to 2,111 in 2021.

“Vietnam’s tourism industry has officially reopened as of March 15, 2022 under the Prime Minister’s decision. This is an important milestone that marks the return of this spearhead economic sector. All of indicators of the tourism industry have miraculously recovered. Thanks to the explosion of domestic tourists after the Covid-19 epidemic, after half of the year the industry already obtained the targets set for the entire year,” said Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director General of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

The catalyst for the new order

In the southern province of An Giang, it is a comprehensive investment in the natural eco-tourism environment. An extremely impressive highlight will be a lotus field up to tens of thousands of square meters which will open up a magical space right in front of the Tra Su Melaleuca Forest; entertainment works in the Tuc Dup Hill tourist site; and the souvenir shopping area inside the An Hao Solar Power Plant, a unique tourist attraction in An Giang. In addition, local delicacies are also changed to suit the taste of visitors. 

To further lure visitors, many tourist sites have offered preferential tickets and services for some types of visitors like children, war invalids, poor people, teachers, medical staff, or big groups of tourists, etc.… They have also focused on improving the quality of services and tours to better serve visitors.

The flexibility, quick adaptation to the new context and proactive renewal of the supply chain of products and services of leading tourist firms are very important.

Recently, in Tho Xuan district, Thanh Hoa province, a resort project worth of hundreds of millions of US dollars of a big investor in the south has been launched.

“After a long time being restrained by the Covid pandemic, now the stormy weather cannot stop us. We are trying our best to complete this project to welcome guests to the resort as soon as possible, perhaps before the New Year 2023,” the investor said.

The door has opened for the tourism industry. Post-epidemic tourism is transforming in a new style that clearly shows the smart investment of businesses. Today, countries around the world see tourism as a money-making machine, which can change the economy in a comprehensive way and the professional and creative service culture will be the launching pad for the investors who know how to grasp new opportunities.

Quoc Dung