Vietnam hopes to serve 110 million tourist arrivals in 2023, including eight million foreign visitors and 102 million domestic travelers.

The country expects this influx of tourism to lead to industry revenues of VND650 trillion (US$27.4 billion).

Despite the country’s high hopes for tourism, the general global climate, including signs of recession and risks in finance, foreign exchange rates, public debt, energy scarcity, and insufficient access to food, could hinder the industry’s ability to meet its targets.

A report by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) showed that the number of international tourists expected to visit Vietnam this year is estimated at 3.5 million, just 70 percent of its target.

The number of domestic travelers in the country may reach 101.3 million, double the target of 60 million and far exceeding the 85 million domestic tourists who traveled around the country in 2019, the year before the COVID-19 outbreak.

Total tourism revenue for this year is estimated to reach VND495 trillion ($20.9 billion), surpassing targets by over 23 percent and equal to 66 percent of the revenue posted in 2019.

A leader of the VNAT forecast that the global tourism market will continue recovering over the next year but is still quite far from reaching 2019 levels. 

Vietnamese tourism will continue to grow, but progress will be slow until major source markets fully reopen their doors and Vietnam loosens its visa policies to match other countries in the region.

Additionally, the Industrial Revolution 4.0 will have a massive impact on tourism as the application of information technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation will foster creativity in the industry. 

To reach the target of eight million foreign tourists, the local tourism sector must focus on key tasks, such as launching the Vietnam tourism plan for the 2021-30 period with a vision to 2045 after getting the government’s green light and adopting marketing strategies for Vietnam’s tourism until 2030. 

In addition, the sector will carry out a plan to apply Industry 4.0 technologies to develop smart tourism and turn tourism into a key economic sector, and another plan to develop community-based tourism after these plans are approved.

The VNAT will also prepare for a national conference on tourism, slated for the first quarter of next year, a conference to review the five-year implementation of the Politburo’s Resolution 08-NQ/TW on developing tourism into a key economic sector, and a specialized conference on training Vietnam’s tourism workforce.

Moreover, the administration will ask for approval for the functions, missions, power, and organizational structure of tourism state management agencies after its restructuring.

According to local enterprises, the target of eight million foreign travelers next year is not challenging.

It is similar to other countries’ plans to double their number of international arrivals in 2022.

For instance, Thailand looks to welcome 20 million foreign tourists in 2023 after serving its 10 millionth foreign guest this month.

Similarly, Singapore will work toward an ambitious goal of doubling its six million international visitors this year.

To achieve the target, Vietnam must quickly remove obstacles in its visa policy.

“In 2023, Vietnam needs to develop a specific recovery road map and remove all restrictions. It must change the thinking that guests are available outside the border and they will arrive in the country as soon as it reopens its doors," said Pham Ha, chairman of Lux Group, a luxury tourism company.

“At present, other markets have reopened their tourism and competed fiercely to attract tourists.”

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