It seems like everyone is talking about it. Recently, tourism in Vietnam has been a hot topic. The number of tourists entering the country has skyrocketed. The country pumped dollars into advertising with hopes of bringing in more visitors. Well, apparently it worked.
This year the attempt to bring tourists in is called “Vietnam-Your destination.” (http://www.vietnam.com/article/vietnam-your-destination-the-second-tourism-stimulus-campaign-2010.html) The government is getting involved to further increase the amount of visitors and they are working with businesses and airlines to achieve lofty goals. It is hopeful that now they will be seen as “a country not a war.” (http://www.gluckman.com/PageVietnam.htm)
“The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has called for comprehensive cooperation of relevant businesses and industries to ensure great achievements,” stated Le. (http://www.vietnam.com/article/vietnam-your-destination-the-second-tourism-stimulus-campaign-2010.html) “In particular, the VNAT cooperates with the Trade Promotion Bureau and Vietnam Airlines to carry out the grand sales program across the big cities and tourism centers such as Hanoi, Da Nang and HCMC during August and September.”
With that kind of cooperation, naturally people will come see the country. With hotel and airline prices dropping, tourism to Vietnam is automatically more accessible. In addition, promotions for the country were done on prominent television stations like CNN, BBC, and Chinese national television. The Vietnamese efforts will not only achieve exactly what they wanted, but also exceed their ambitions.
“Tourist arrivals in Vietnam rose 35 per cent in the first eight months of 2010 over the same period last year… crediting the global economic recovery and the country’s efforts to market itself as a holiday destination.”
Vietnam’s Tourism Administration “set a target of 4.2 million visitors this year but said the actual total might hit 5 million.” (http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/business/news/article_1586206.php/Vietnam-tourism-up-35-per-cent-on-economic-recovery-marketing)
Although the large amount of advertising being done for Vietnam is the main cause of the increase in tourism, it could partially be that now people are just more comfortable with visiting the country. Although the Vietnam War ended about 35 years ago, the only natural thing to think of when someone says “Vietnam” is “Vietnam War.” The aftertaste of war can stain a country or region for years, to say the least. Even still, Vietnam may be using that stain to draw in more people. Tourists see remnants of war when they visit, and some are even visiting just for the purpose of seeing the war “memorabilia.”
Luong Minh Sam, Director of the Tourism Department of Danang, said, “We’re promoting all the war history, but American tourism is really our aim,” adds Luong. “Six million Americans were directly involved in the Vietnam War, and 20 million more were indirectly involved. That’s a big market for use.” (http://www.gluckman.com/PageVietnam.htm)
With the combined efforts to broadcast the country as a tourist destination and the passing of time, Vietnam is back on go-to list for tourists all over the world.
Abby Ott | Reporting 