Uniting for Better Tourism

Because the tourism business is becoming increasingly competitive, both internationally and intra-country, tourism advertising needs to become more professional and it would help if there was effective cooperation between the State and businesses. This is the opinion of the Government and businesspeople who took part in the workshop 'Increasing Ties between the State and Businesses in Tourism Promotion', which was held recently in Hanoi, sponsored by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.
Saigon Tourist makes an effort…
For years now, the Sai Gon Tourist Corporation (Saigon Tourist) has been going to cultural trade fairs and exhibitions to promote Vietnamese culture. It now wishes to promote Vietnamese tourism in Japan, France, Western Europe, North America, China and ASEAN countries. Foreign tourism companies, media companies and film studios have also been invited to come to Vietnam within the framework of Famtour or Famtrip so that they can see Vietnamese people and culture for themselves.
Saigon Tourist Corporation's tourism promotion efforts were the result of cooperation between many organizations and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and Vietnamese diplomatic representative offices in foreign countries. Saigon Tourist has established ties with about 300 companies and organizations in 30 countries.
…while general cooperation is lacking
Dr. Do Cam Tho of the Tourism Development Institute under the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism said that Vietnamese tourism promotion activities have been carried out since 2000 within the framework of the National Action Program for Tourism and many of the tourism promotion events that were launched nationwide have been noticed by local authorities and businesses. However, there has been little cooperation between the two. By looking at the workings of the tourism industry in foreign countries it can be surmised that tourism promotion activities will not be very effective unless businesses and national tourism promotion agencies are willing to work with each other.
Nguyen Thanh Huong, the deputy head of the Marketing Department of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said that Vietnam has no tourism marketing strategy/plan and that tourism promotion activities are neither 'scientific' nor focused. The National Tourism Promotion Agency also has organizational structure problems and there is a lack of connectivity between the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, ministries, provinces, cities and tour operators - everyone, actually.
Getting direction from above
Dr. Tho emphasized the need for cooperation between the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, tourist businesses and tourist business associations saying that cooperation between State tourism promotion agencies and businesses would be in the interest of the nation and these businesses.
The Vietnam National Tourism Administration should be directing tourism promotion activities, organizing national tourism promotion events and encouraging businesses to get together to expand and improve tourism. It should act in the interest of businesses and all parties that take part in national tourism promotion programs and it should provide tourism statistics and information so that businesses can keep abreast of market trends.
Dr. Nguyen Phu Duc, the chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, said that tourism involves many sectors, provinces and cities and that to be able to promote tourism in Vietnam it is necessary for domestic travel and hotel companies to get established and build a good reputation.