Can Vietnam tourism surpass Thailand’s competitors?

The advantage of the latecomer

The story of the Director General of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh shared at the National Tourism Forum “Recovery”. Vietnam tourism – New Orientation, New Action” on January 4 showed that competition in tourism is increasingly fierce in Southeast Asia, requiring foreign countries to have flexible and open policies, and to have their own way. to attract international visitors.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh said that, after 2 years, all countries in the world, including the developed tourism countries, are on the starting line. The country that takes advantage, has a good preparation and a good start will succeed.

Vietnam, like other ASEAN countries, has many advantages and potentials for tourism development. This is also the area where some countries have made the first move to open tourism. In which, Thailand has always been at the forefront. They have very quick, very timely, very effective policies.

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For example, official Thailand Open for international guests from 1/7/2021, 4 months before Vietnam and requires customers to buy insurance with a minimum payment of 100,000 USD. By the end of November 2021, our country will pilot the first phase of welcoming guests. At that time, we require an insurance level of 50,000 USD, immediately the next day Thailand also lowered it to 50,000 USD. Vietnam has just announced the second phase of the pilot phase to welcome international guests, the insurance level is reduced to 20,000 USD, while Thailand also continues to reduce similarly.

“Even today (April 1), they announced to welcome international guests without testing, this is one of the drastic steps, competing very strongly with other tourist destinations. This can be considered as the main competitor of Vietnam’s tourism,” he commented.

As for Thailand, Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh said that before the epidemic (in 2019), it welcomed 40 million international visitors. The tourism industry contributes over 20% to GDP, so the country is looking for ways to reopen the economy, with tourism as the focus.

Although Vietnam is behind, the technology exploited from tourists is inferior because of the slower starting point, but we have the advantage of the latecomers.

Mr. Khanh analyzed that in tourism, there is an analysis of the saturation of the destination. Thailand is a very familiar and famous destination in the region as well as in the world, but the growth rate of visitors has slowed down recently. That is, they begin to show signs of saturation. Meanwhile, Vietnam is emerging as a new destination with many potentials, new products, and new ways of serving. We need to take full advantage of this.

Moreover, with current efforts, plus good preparation after 2 years of closure and the advantage of a new destination, honored by world tourism organizations, Mr. Khanh expects Vietnam’s tourism to make a breakthrough. next time.

“New action” for tourism to recover

That is the expectation of the industry commander, in fact, Vietnam still has a lot of work to do according to the forum’s theme of “new action” for tourism to recover.

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The first is the visa issue. Mr. Dau Anh Tuan, Head of VCCI Legal Department, commented that the current entry visa policy reduces the direct competitiveness of Vietnam’s tourism compared to ASEAN countries. For example, Vietnam only applies visa exemption for tourists in a short time, equal to 15-50% compared to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia… The cost of tourist visas at the border gate. of Vietnam is almost double that of Cambodia, Laos or Indonesia.

While, according to Mr. Nguyen Khoa Luan, Director of Photo Viet Travel Company Hop on – Hop off, this problem arises first before thinking about promotion and advertising. Mr. Luan compared, opening a visa is like “how beautiful your house is, how luxurious it is, but when the door is closed, no one can enter”.

The second is tourism products. Flamingo HanoiRedtours director Nguyen Cong Hoan said that it is no longer possible to maintain the same view of the market as before. In the short term, it is necessary to determine what products can be sold and sold, which markets can be sold immediately, such as resort tourism, for family groups, near markets,… – subjects can go. instant travel. At this point, it is necessary to focus on the MICE customer stream.

“The opinion that the market that can enter Vietnam first is welcomed and served first, regardless of high or low payment. The current attraction of tourists depends mainly on the flight route (open or not, flight frequency). The more opportunities, the greater the chance) and your country’s immigration and health policies,” said Mr. Hoan.

In addition, according to Mr. Phung Quang Thang, Director of Hanoitourist Travel Company, it is necessary to prepare tourism products. Currently, many tourist facilities and hotels are still closed or in need of renovation; Temporarily laid off workers are not ready. In addition, there is data on the source market and target audience. Once the product and market has been made well, and at the same time with the announcement of opening, immediately inviting famtrip and fresstrip delegations from other countries to Vietnam will help convey and spread information to the world.

Ngoc Ha