HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam received 4.2 million international tourists in the first quarter of the year, a 39 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.

That’s a good sign for the national tourism industry, Hà Văn Siêu, deputy general director of the Việt Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), told a conference held on Saturday in Hà Nội.

The VNAT hosted travel agents, tour guides, enterprises and local authorities to discuss efforts to boost tourism, especially through promotional programmes.

As the tourism industry is one of the country’s key economic sectors, the Government has issued many policies to develop sustainable tourism and support people working in this field.

Siêu stressed the importance of international travel events such as Việt Nam International Travel Mart (VITM), International Tourism Expo in HCM City, the worldwide Travex, Moscow International Travel and Tourism Exhibition and Germany Travel Mart. He said these events are an opportunity to introduce a brand image for the country’s tourism, seek co-operation with new partners and attract more tourists.

He also suggested the country organise press trips and FAM tours, enhance online marketing and take full advantage of international political, cultural and sports events such as APEC meetings, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meetings and the Huế Festival to promote tourism.

Last but not least, human resources are a decisive factor to develop the tourism industry. The panelists agreed that it’s necessary to upgrade the quality of tour guides and service providers to meet the demands of tourists.

Bùi Văn Dũng, vice chairman of the Việt Nam Tour Guide Association (VTGA), said the VTGA co-operates with partners to apply new technology in supporting tour guides.

“In the near future, we will complete applications to support tour guides at work and build up a platform connecting tour guides and tour companies,” he said.

A roadshow to promote tourism in Thừa Thiên Huế, Đà Nẵng and Quảng Nam provinces opened a series of promotion activities this year at key markets at home and abroad such as Hà Nội, HCM City, Japan, Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The event provides information on highlighted tours, destinations and festivals of the provinces as well as tour packages and promotions.

Tourism departments and authorities of three provinces recently agreed to join hands to promote regional tourism.

“The triangle of Huế (Thừa Thiên Huế), Đà Nẵng and Hội An (Quảng Nam) is located on the world tourism map as an attractive destination of the central region that foreign tourists cannot miss when they come to Việt Nam,” said Trương Thị Hồng Hạnh, vice director of the Đà Nẵng Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

“The booth of three provinces at the Việt Nam International Travel Mart 2018 in Hà Nội attracted many visitors and buyers. This time, we highlighted new destinations such as the Thần Tài Mountain and Hot Spring in Đà Nẵng and Silk Sense Hội An Resort.”

The four-day VITM wrapped up yesterday receiving totally 100,000 visitors. According to statistics from travel companies, up to 29,300 international and domestic tours have been sold with the proceeds of VNĐ245 billion (US$10.6 million). — VNS