The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) in conjunction with the Vietnam Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism and Vietnam Airlines has highlighted the safety of visitors as their primary objective, whilst revealing news and upcoming tourist trends for 2016.
In recognition of the increasing importance of the tourism sector, the Vietnamese government has been working closely with the different ministries in all the provinces throughout the country to ensure that tourists have a good experience and are safe during their stay. In tandem with this, the EU and the government of Vietnam are currently co-sponsoring a project to enhance the capacity of personnel within the Ministry of Hanoi and within the 63 provinces to improve tourism products, with increased education and training for those employed in the tourism sector.
Earlier this year it was announced that the UK, along with France, Germany, Italy and Spain, would enjoy visa-free entry to the country. At that time it was revealed that the next step is a major new initiative to develop an e-marketing platform for the effective promotion of tourism to Vietnam. Product lines will be based around the tagline 'Timeless Charm' with a strong focus on coast, culture, nature and city breaks.
Reporting on some of the of the destination demands from the UK, the average stay is approximately 12 nights and, of those who travel to the destination, an estimated 17.5% are repeat visitors, with 25.5% of UK visitors using vehicles and 54.5% using an aircraft during their time in Vietnam, underscoring the notion that UK visitors are culturally curious and tend to tour the regions and natural environments on offer.
Some of the key developments within the region this past year include the opening of Noi Bai Airport and the opening of an expressway between Hanoi and Sa Pa, which will enable tourists to travel from Hanoi to the northern provinces within four hours.
The island of Phu Quoc to the South of Vietnam is pegged to be the next upcoming destination that agents should keep an eye on. It will be the key focus of the promotion of Vietnam in 2016 specifically tailored to the western European market.
