The Vietnam Tourism Association held a conference on July 5 to implement Government Resolution No.82 dated May 18, 2023 on solutions to speed up the recovery and development of the tourism sector.

Sapa is an attractive tourist destination

The event was also held to celebrate the 63rd anniversary of the Vietnam tourism sector (July 9, 1960-2023).

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Doan Van Viet said that the Vietnam tourism sector has gained many proud achievements over the past 63 years, with the number of foreign visitors increasing to 19 million in 2019 from only 250,000 in 1990.

The tourism sector contributed 6.3% to GDP in 2015 and 9.2% to GDP in 2019. However, the sector was hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2020-2021 period with the bankruptcy of a large number of enterprises in the field.

Vietnam resumed its tourism activities from March 5, 2022 and the country welcomed 5.5 million foreign visitors in the first six months of 2023 with revenue of 343.1 trillion VND, demonstrating the recovery of the sector and its important role in socio-economic development.

Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association Vu The Binh said that the association has issued an action plan to carry out Resolution No.82 in a bid to turn the tourism sector into a spearhead economic sector and move Vietnam into the group of 30 countries with leading tourism competitiveness.

NDO