To revive the growth in foreign tourists, Vietnam should focus ondealing with simple problems before turning to money- and time-consumingmatters, Deputy Prime Minster Vu Duc Dam said on June 11.
Speaking on the fringe of the National Assembly’s ongoing ninthsitting, he said it will take time to upgrade infrastructure likeairports, roads, hotels, and cultural structures to completely satisfyvisitors. The Government will also work to attract more foreign visitorsby exempting visas and calling for private funding for overseaspromotion campaigns.
In the shorter term, Vietnamis able to improve other aspects that do not require as much funding,he suggested, naming several things that deter foreigners such as beingovercharged, which makes them feel that they are being cheated.
Many foreigners also feel unsafe when travelling on roads in Vietnam, he noted, adding that local traffic has not improved much despitenumerous enacted measures.
Meanwhile, beggars havealso deteriorated the country’s image. The Deputy PM explained that whenon holiday, tourists want to enjoy a relaxing atmosphere and explorenew things, yet the common scene of beggars, including some fake ones,casts a doleful look on places of interest and upsets visitorsthroughout their time in Vietnam .
He added theunsolved matter of food safety, such as street food sellers using theirnaked hands to pick up food instead of wearing plastic gloves, a smalldetail but occasionally alarming for foreigners.
Uncared-for public toilets and some Vietnamese visitors litteringtourist sites also leave a bad impression of the country on foreigners,Dam noted.
He underlined the importance of localpeople’s attitudes towards travellers from other countries, adding thatonly one negative interaction can maim the visitor’s experience.
The Deputy PM said except for traffic issues that require moresynchronous measures, Vietnam can address the other issues, citingcentral Hoi An and Da Nang cities as good examples.
He stressed that such matters not only relate to tourism but also partlyillustrate the Vietnamese culture. Improvements in these aspects canlead to the development of tourism, culture, and the entire nation aswell. -VNA
Speaking on the fringe of the National Assembly’s ongoing ninthsitting, he said it will take time to upgrade infrastructure likeairports, roads, hotels, and cultural structures to completely satisfyvisitors. The Government will also work to attract more foreign visitorsby exempting visas and calling for private funding for overseaspromotion campaigns.
In the shorter term, Vietnamis able to improve other aspects that do not require as much funding,he suggested, naming several things that deter foreigners such as beingovercharged, which makes them feel that they are being cheated.
Many foreigners also feel unsafe when travelling on roads in Vietnam, he noted, adding that local traffic has not improved much despitenumerous enacted measures.
Meanwhile, beggars havealso deteriorated the country’s image. The Deputy PM explained that whenon holiday, tourists want to enjoy a relaxing atmosphere and explorenew things, yet the common scene of beggars, including some fake ones,casts a doleful look on places of interest and upsets visitorsthroughout their time in Vietnam .
He added theunsolved matter of food safety, such as street food sellers using theirnaked hands to pick up food instead of wearing plastic gloves, a smalldetail but occasionally alarming for foreigners.
Uncared-for public toilets and some Vietnamese visitors litteringtourist sites also leave a bad impression of the country on foreigners,Dam noted.
He underlined the importance of localpeople’s attitudes towards travellers from other countries, adding thatonly one negative interaction can maim the visitor’s experience.
The Deputy PM said except for traffic issues that require moresynchronous measures, Vietnam can address the other issues, citingcentral Hoi An and Da Nang cities as good examples.
He stressed that such matters not only relate to tourism but also partlyillustrate the Vietnamese culture. Improvements in these aspects canlead to the development of tourism, culture, and the entire nation aswell. -VNA
