Tourism and service industry

As Vietnam reopens its borders to tourism, attracting, developing and retaining a quality workforce has become the top priority for this industry. With borders reopened and tourism promotion campaigns launched in Vietnam, hotels, tour operators and ancillary service providers across the country might be facing a major problem: shortage of qualified labor. Dr Nuno F. Ribeiro, RMIT University Vietnam During the worst period of the pandemic in 2020-2021, many tourism organizations had to reduce their (experienced) workforce. A report by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism revealed that tourism businesses cut staff by 70-80% in 2020. In 2021, the number of full-time tourism employees was down to 25%  of the 2020 level, and about 30% quit their jobs or had their contracts terminated. These workers have either returned to their original employment prior to tourism and hospitality or they have found employment elsewhere. Now a great number of them are … [Read more...] about Hunt for human talent for tourism – Vietnam’s new normal: RMIT University

The capital city and its neighboring provinces introduce attractive tourist destinations, products, and services to international visitors. Themed “Hanoi - Den de yeu” (Hanoi- Visit It to Love It), Hanoi Tourism Festival 2022 is an opportunity to promote the image of a safe and friendly capital on the occasion of the 31st SEA Games. That is the affirmation of Nguyen Manh Quyen - Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee at the festival’s opening ceremony last weekend. Leaders of Hanoi city and delegates visited the tourist booth at the opening ceremony of Hanoi Tourism Festival 2022. Photo: Le Nam Admiring the “technological wall” showing Hanoi’s scenic spots The festival was organized with various new and impressive features. Besides advertising through booths and miniature models of landscapes such as Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Temple of Literature - Imperial Academy, Hoa Lo Prison, and Hanoi’s Old Quarter, among others, the festival also showcases … [Read more...] about Hanoi promotes tourism among visitors attending SEA Games 31

HÀ NỘI — The tourism sector must apply digital transformation to secure sustainable development, according to dozens of participants at a forum on the topic held in Hà Nội on May 18. Titled "Green Light for Tourism to Take Off Part 2: Digital Transformation: Diving Force for Sustainable Development", the forum gathered dozens of experts from State management agencies, tourism authorities, localities, and IT. The first part of the forum held in March focused on opening doors to international tourists. Hoàng Quang Phòng, deputy chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce Industry, said at the end of 2018, the Prime Minister issued Decision No 1671/QĐ-TTg approving the “Master plan on applying informatics technology in the tourism field for 2018-2020, with orientation to 2025.” “Informatics technology has been applied in various tourism companies, especially hotels, resorts and big travel agencies,” Phòng said. A visitor uses a remote guide app on her mobile at the National … [Read more...] about Forum held on digital transformation for sustainable tourism

Do Chi Cong, member of EuroCham and general director of SB Invest According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Southeast Asia will become the fourth largest tourist attraction in the world, with Vietnam also developing a green and sustainable pathway over the next ten years. In your opinion, what is the core element of green tourism? Green tourism advocates for minimal detrimental impacts on the local environment, biodiversity protection, renewable energy, the promotion of natural and cultural heritage, environmentally-friendly products, and the active participation of local communities. Green tourism is the key to responsible and sustainable development and respecting natural elements. Minimising negative environmental impacts and creating a healthy environment are all at its core. Thus, to be recognised as a green tourism product, all tourism services such as tours, hotels, restaurants, and golf courses must meet the above criteria. As an … [Read more...] about Prospects for green tourism real estate development

Foreign tourists visit the History Museum in HCM City on April 8. Photo baotanglichsutphcm.com.vn HCM CITY — Human resource shortages plague the tourism industry even as tourism, transport and other services are resuming, HCM City authorities said. Lack of human resources is a global problem for the tourism industry, and Việt Nam is no exception, Bùi Thị Ngọc Hiếu, deputy director of the city Department of Tourism, said. It has been a longstanding issue in HCM City and was only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, she told a workshop on May 13. Around 80 per cent of workers were laid off or moved to other industries during two years of pandemic restrictions, creating a huge worker shortage, she said. The city is a leader in training people in tourism specialities, and has 24 universities, 20 colleges and 19 vocational schools, according to Hiếu. More than 12,000 people graduate from them every year, meeting around 60 per cent of demand, she said. As of mid-April 454 … [Read more...] about Tourism hit by lack of personnel after reopening

The conference at the Merchants' Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) in Kolkata – the capital of the West Bengal state - attracted representatives from 50 Indian businesses and many Vietnamese companies, while the event at the Chamber of Commerce in Calcutta saw the participation of 40 enterprises. Addressing the events, Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau highlighted the close relationship in history, politics, culture and people-to-people exchange between Vietnam and India in general and between Vietnam and West Bengal in particular, noting that the bilateral relations are increasingly strengthened in the five pillars of politics, defense-security, economy, science and technology, and education - culture. Two-way trade expanded to over 13 billion USD in 2021 from 200 million USD in 2000, turning India into the 8th biggest trade partner of Vietnam, approaching the 15-billion-USD target set by leaders of the two countries. Regarding investment, as of March 20, India had 317 valid … [Read more...] about Conferences help beef up Vietnam – India trade, investment, tourism ties

Buyers at a supermarket (Photo: SGGP) Different from the boring scene when the Covid-19 epidemic raged, in recent months, especially on the big holiday of April 30 and May Day, Ho Chi Minh City has witnessed a bustling shopping scene again at commercial centers and supermarkets. Large shopping centers such as Aeon, BigC, Emart, MM Mega, or supermarket systems Saigon Co.op, Satra have seen crowds of customers who were waiting in line to buy commodities. A representative of Aeon Vietnam said that during the past holiday, business locations across the country have recorded positive growth. For example, at Aeon General Department Store and supermarket - Tan Phu, the number of visitors and purchasing power increased by 30 percent compared to weekends in the first few months of the year. Ms. Huynh Thi Kim Thanh, Director of General Department Store and supermarket Aeon Tan Phu said that compared to the holiday of April 30, 2021, the number of visitors to Aeon - Tan Phu this year … [Read more...] about HCMC sees purchasing power increase, recovery of retail industry

The Vietnamese Prime Minister calls on US investors to continue cooperating with the Vietnamese partners to promote business activities. Economic cooperation between the US and Vietnam has the potential to develop further, with a priority given to capital market development, digital transformation, energy transformation, climate change response, tourism and trade. An overview of the conference. Photos: Vietnam Airlines Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh gave the remarks at a trade-investment-tourism promotion conference with the theme “Rediscovering Vietnam” on May 17 in San Francisco, the US. The event took place within the framework of the Prime Minister’s official visit to the US. At the event, the Vietnamese Prime Minister wished the US partners to support Vietnam in policy consultation, capital sources, the development of human resources and infrastructure systems, technology, and governance. With the topic “Rediscovering Vietnam”, the conference … [Read more...] about Vietnam, US look to boost economic cooperation

Visitors look into outbound tour options from leading travel operators at the 18th HCM City Tourism Festival. VNA/VNS Photo by Mỹ Phương HCM CITY — Travel operators are strongly promoting international travel this summer after Việt Nam dropped the COVID-19 test requirement for arrivals. Trần Đoàn Thế Duy, general director of Vietravel Tourism Company, told the Người Lao Động (Labourer) Newspaper that cancellation of the COVID-19 test requirement for foreign arrivals had opened up a great opportunity for Việt Nam’s tourism industry. He said his company had signed agreements with the Singapore Tourism Board, Tourism Authority of Thailand and Korea Tourism Organisation to develop tours with preferential prices for Vietnamese tourists. Vietravel is selling tours to countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The most favoured destinations are Singapore and Thailand. Tours to Indonesia, Korea, Europe, the US and South Africa are also catching attention. The TST Tourist Service … [Read more...] about Removing COVID-19 testing requirement a fillip for outbound tourism

Launching ceremony of Hanoi Cuisine and Craft Tourism Festival 2022 In response to Vietnam’s hosting of SEA Games 31 in Hanoi and several surrounding localities, the Hanoi Centre for Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion (HPA) was assigned by the municipal People’s Committee to organise the Hanoi Cuisine and Craft Village Tourism Festival 2022 from May 19 to 23. The special five-day event is taking place on the pavements of Le Quang Dao Street in Hanoi’s Nam Tu Liem district. In her opening remark, HPA’s deputy director Nguyen Thi Mai Anh said that the festival provides a valued opportunity for the city’s tourism and service industry to promote image, and introduce cultural and culinary values ​​and local traditional craft products to the people, as well as domestic and foreign visitors attending SEA Games 31. The event aims to spread Hanoi’s image as a safe, friendly, and attractive destination, buoyed by distinct cuisine and traditional crafts. The Hanoi Cuisine … [Read more...] about Festival bringing exposure to Hanoi’s distinct food and crafts