Circular No. 04/2000/TT-BTC guiding the management, allocation, and settlement of funds for the National Tourism Action Program and tourism events in 2000

CIRCULAR

CIRCULAR NO. 04/2000/TT-BTC OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE ON JANUARY 10, 2000 GUIDING THE MANAGEMENT, ISSUE AND SETTLEMENT OF EXPENSES FOR THE NATIONAL ACTION PROGRAM ON TOURISM AND TOURISM EVENTS IN 2000

- Pursuant to Decree No. 87/CP dated December 19, 1996 of the Government on the delegation of management, implementation, and settlement of the state budget; Decree No. 51/1998/CP dated July 18, 1998 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 87/CP.

- Pursuant to Decision No. 781/1999/QD-TTg dated August 12, 1999 of the Prime Minister approving the budget for the National Action Program on Tourism in 1999 and 2000.

The Ministry of Finance guides the regime for managing, issuing, and settling the state budget expenses for the National Action Program on Tourism in 1999 and 2000 (hereinafter referred to as the Program) as follows:

PART I: GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. The Program includes the synchronous implementation of six projects as follows:

- Project 1: Promoting and publicizing Vietnam's tourism.

- Project 2: Cultural tourism linked with ethnic festivals.

- Project 3: Developing and upgrading tourist areas and sites.

- Project 4: Improving the quality of tourism products and services in Vietnam.

- Project 5: Creating favorable conditions and encouraging tourism activities.

- Project 6: Perfecting organization and enhancing the effectiveness of state management of tourism.

2. Sources of funding for the Program:

State budget (central budget, local budget); capital raised from businesses, organizations, and individuals engaged in tourism; revenue from advertising, selling books, publications, tickets, and other service charges of the program (if any); foreign aid and sponsorship; other sources of income as prescribed by the state.

3. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is the leading agency responsible for implementing the Program and is accountable for the entire management of the Program's funds. 

PART II: SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

I. CONTENTS OF EXPENSES AND EXPENSE LIMITS:

1. Content of expenditure:

Based on the contents of the Program approved by the State Council on Tourism, the Program's budget is allocated for specific expenditure items as follows:

1.1. Expenditure for domestic and international publicity work.

- Expenditure for compiling and printing various types of publications serving the promotion of Vietnam's tourism.

- Expenditure to support some mass media outlets to develop programs promoting Vietnam's tourism.

- Expenditure for designing the symbol of the national action program.

- Expenditure for receiving and providing tourism information at some airports.

- Expenditure for designing and installing signs introducing the national action program on tourism at some locations.

- Expenditure for establishing a hotline to provide tourists with relevant information about Vietnam's tourism; utilizing the Internet.

- Expenditure for participating in domestic and international tourism fairs, conferences, and forums.

- Expenditure for welcoming some target groups of guests from foreign travel agencies and some journalists visiting Vietnam to participate in promotional tours to introduce Vietnam's tourism products.

- Expenditure for collaborating with international tourism organizations to organize seminars on the international tourism market and promote, market Vietnam's tourism.

1.2. Expenditure for surveys to implement the project.

- Expenditure for surveying and preparing feasibility reports for three key tourist areas.

- Expenditure for surveying and developing new routes and specialized routes.

- Expenditure for organizing domestic and international surveys to establish mechanisms to encourage and develop Vietnam's tourism.

- Expenditure for investigating and surveying the labor force in the tourism industry nationwide.

1.3. Expenditure for organizing training courses to improve tour guide skills.

1.4. Expenditure for organizing hospitality contests in the tourism industry; a nationwide tour guide contest; supporting some localities to organize spring trade fairs during the New Year and some representative national festivals to contribute to building these festivals into tourism products.

1.5. Expenditure for Program management work.

- Expenditure for building software for tourist accommodation registration; office supplies; information, propaganda, and communication expenses; travel expenses; purchasing equipment for professional use.

- Expenditure for mid-term and final reviews.

(specific expenditure items of the Program are detailed in the attached annex)

2. Expenditure levels:

The above-mentioned expenditure items must comply with current standards and norms for expenditures, including:

- For expenditure on train and car fares, travel expenses, and room rental for staff conducting surveys, this shall be implemented according to Circular No. 94/1998/TT-BTC dated June 30, 1998 of the Ministry of Finance on the travel expense regime for state employees on domestic trips.

- For expenditure on conferences and seminars, this shall be implemented according to Circular No. 93/1998/TT-BTC dated June 30, 1998 of the Ministry of Finance on the conference expense regime at all levels nationwide.

- For expenditure on overseas travel expenses for staff, this shall be implemented according to Circular No. 45/1999/TT-BTC dated May 4, 1999 of the Ministry of Finance on the travel expense regime for state employees on short-term overseas trips and Circular No. 108/1999/TT-BTC guiding supplementary provisions to Circular No. 45/1999/TT-BTC dated May 4, 1999 (excluding reimbursement for staff from tourism enterprises and localities).

- For expenditure on remuneration for teachers participating in training courses to improve skills, this shall be implemented according to Circular No. 150/1998/TT-BTC dated November 19, 1998 of the Ministry of Finance guiding the management and use of training and capacity-building funds for state officials and civil servants.

- For expenditure of the Program with special characteristics such as printing publications, books, pictures, films, making advertisements, survey costs... the basis for preparing budgets and managing expenditures is the state-prescribed standards, norms, and unit prices of similar industries.

- For the budget of large-scale tasks, bidding must be conducted according to current regulations. Bidding shall be carried out in accordance with the Tendering Regulations issued together with Decree No. 88/1999/NĐ-CP dated September 1, 1999 of the Government and related guidance documents.

- For other expenses, the basis shall be legal and valid expense vouchers and invoices in accordance with current regulations.

II.  REVENUES:

The National Tourism Action Program has the following revenue items:

-   Sale of tourism publications

-   Advertising revenue

-   Revenue from copyright sales

-   Other revenues

The General Department of Tourism is responsible for remitting all such revenues to the State budget, which will then allocate funds back to the General Department of Tourism to supplement the Program's funding.

III. ESTABLISHING THE BUDGET:

Annually, based on the Government's decision regarding the allocation of the Program's budget, the General Department of Tourism is responsible for allocating the allocated funds according to the State budget classification; reviewing and allocating funds for each Project in accordance with the content of work listed in Section I, Part II of this Circular, divided by month and quarter, and submitting them to the Ministry of Finance as the basis for fund disbursement.

IV. FUNDS DISBURSEMENT:

Based on the annual budget according to the State budget classification of the General Department of Tourism, the Ministry of Finance will review and disburse funds to the General Department of Tourism. The State Treasury will disburse payments to the implementing unit based on the approved budget of the authorized unit, upon verification of invoices, vouchers, and payment orders issued by the head of the unit.

The Program's funds are disbursed to a separate account of the General Department of Tourism opened at the State Treasury. The Ministry of Finance will disburse funds to the General Department of Tourism according to the budget and progress of tasks.

V. WORK ACCEPTANCE, INSPECTION AND SETTLEMENT OF FUNDS:

- The General Department of Tourism is responsible for inspecting and accepting completed work volumes, which are carried out based on the actual work performed, budget estimates, and contracts signed between the General Department of Tourism and the implementing agency.

The General Department of Tourism will cooperate with the Ministry of Finance to conduct regular or spot inspections on the management and use of Program funds.

- At the end of each quarter and year, the General Department of Tourism will report on the implementation and settlement of Program funds in accordance with the accounting system for state-owned enterprises as stipulated in Decision No. 999/TC-QĐ-CĐKT dated November 2, 1996, issued by the Minister of Finance, and Circular No. 103/1999/TT-BTC dated July 18, 1998, issued by the Ministry of Finance.

Upon completion of the Program, the General Department of Tourism is responsible for summarizing and reporting on the use and settlement of Program funds.

PART III: IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION

This Circular takes effect 15 days after the date of signature. During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties, they should be reported to the Ministry of Finance for study and appropriate amendments.

 

ANNEX

(Attached to Circular No. 04 dated January 10, 2000, of the Ministry of Finance)

 

EXPENSES OF THE NATIONAL ACTION PROGRAM
FOR TOURISM IN 1999 AND 2000 WITH A TOTAL BUDGET OF 27,506 MILLION DONG
APPROVED BY THE PRIME MINISTER AT
DECISION NO. 78/QĐ-TTG ON AUGUST 12, 1999
I. Project 1:

 

Promoting and publicizing Vietnam's tourism with a budget of 19,490 million dong, including the following expenditure items. 1. Expenses for compiling and printing publications:

a/ Expenses for compiling and printing publications for promoting Vietnam's tourism include: 5,000 photo books introducing general information about Vietnam's tourism for foreign professional travel agencies; 20,000 folders with symbols and titles of the National Action Program and 20,000 letters from the Deputy Prime Minister to be distributed to media outlets, travel agencies, and trade fairs.

b/ Expenses for compiling and printing publications and materials introducing Vietnam's country and people: 30,000 books in English, French, Chinese, Japanese, and German.

c/ Expenses for compiling and printing various publications for purposes such as trade fairs, travel agencies, diplomatic missions abroad, news agencies, and international organizations, including:

- Expenses for publishing 9,000 copies comprising two volumes of directories of travel agencies and hotels rated 3, 4, and 5 stars, restaurants, bars, and cafes across the country in English, French, and Japanese.

- Expenses for publishing 28,000 books introducing seven key tourist regions in English and French.

- Expenses for publishing 10,000 small books on Vietnamese festivals in English and French.

- Expenses for publishing 10,000 small books on Vietnamese national parks in English and French.

- Expenses for publishing 10,000 small books on Vietnamese ethnic groups in English and French.

- Expenses for producing 36,000 brochures introducing 18 representative festivals of the Vietnamese nation; 6,000 brochures introducing Vietnamese beaches; 10,000 brochures introducing historical and cultural sites; 10,000 brochures introducing Vietnamese ecotourism; 6,000 brochures introducing Vietnamese golf courses; 10,000 brochures introducing war memorials; 10,000 brochures introducing traditional craft villages in English and French.

 - Expenses for drawing and printing 30,000 maps of Vietnam, including five types of maps (National; Hanoi and vicinity; Hai Phong - Quang Ninh - Halong; Hue - Da Nang and Central Region; Ho Chi Minh City and vicinity).

- Expenses for publishing 4,000 small books introducing Vietnamese ethnic cuisine in English and French.

- Expenses for publishing 12,000 tour guidebooks in English, French, Chinese, and Japanese.

- Expenses for drawing and enlarging 20 large photos (0.85 x 0.65 meters) of Vietnam's scenic landscapes, printing 20,000 posters about the Program.

d/ - Expenses for producing two promotional videos introducing Vietnam focusing on culture, history, marine and island tourism, and ecological environment.

- Expenses for publishing 3,000 CD-ROMs about Vietnam's tourism.

- Expenses for producing some souvenirs: conical hats, caps, ties, bags... printed with the title "Vietnam - Destination of the New Millennium" for promoting Vietnam's tourism.

2. Domestic promotion:

a/ Expenses for promoting the National Action Program "Vietnam - Destination of the New Millennium" through the following methods:

- Expenses for supporting the Central Television Station for one month to produce special programs on tourism.

- Costs for supporting the Central Television Station for one month to establish a special tourism program.

- Costs for supporting the preparation of a program to broadcast special programs promoting the National Action Program on Voice of Vietnam Radio, broadcasting four times a month.

- Costs for establishing a tourism page on the newspapers People's Army, Hanoi New, and Saigon Liberation, including costs for supporting article writing on MarketB.

- Costs for a special section on the National Tourism Action Program in the Travel Weekly and Travel Magazine.

b/ Costs for developing the emblem of the National Action Program "Vietnam - Millennium Destination" in two languages: Vietnamese and English.

c/  Information dissemination and promotion through various forms:

- Costs for receiving and providing travel information at Noi Bai International Airport, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Hue airports, including rental fees, telephone and fax expenses, and labor hire costs.

- Costs for designing and installing promotional boards for the National Action Program at major tourist centers nationwide. Promotion and publicity in major cities during national holidays.  6.Implements one-time payments for those who have contributed to the revolution according to Ordinance No. 19/2000/PL-UBTVQH10 dated February 4, 2000, of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly; provides housing support for those who were active in the revolutionary movement before 1945 according to Decision No. 20/2000/QĐ-TTg dated February 8, 2000, of the Prime Minister.

- Costs for coordinating with the Postal Telecommunications Corporation to establish a hotline 108 to provide tourists with relevant travel information.

3. Costs for international promotion:

a/ Costs for participating in international tourism fairs, conferences, and forums:

- Costs for participating in global tourism fairs in Germany, England, France, Japan, and the United States, including booth rental fees, press conference costs, travel expenses for staff abroad, and ethnic cultural performances.

- Costs for participating in regional and domestic tourism fairs, conferences, and forums, including booth rental fees, decoration costs, press conference costs, and travel expenses for staff abroad.

b/ Costs for utilizing the Internet:

- Costs for upgrading the Vietnamtourism website hosted in the United States.

- Costs for building a new website "Vietnam - 2000" to introduce activities of Vietnam under the National Tourism Program and tourism events in 2000.

- Costs for publishing an electronic newspaper "Vietnamese Tourism," one issue per week on the Internet, including content promoting the program "Vietnam - Millennium Destination."

c/ Costs for organizing invitations for some target groups from foreign travel agencies from markets such as the US, Japan, England, France, Australia, and Northern Europe, along with some specialized travel journalists to visit Vietnam for survey trips aimed at advertising and introducing Vietnamese tourism products. Reception costs include accommodation and transportation expenses while in Vietnam.

d/ Costs for coordinating with international tourism organizations to organize seminars on the international tourism market and promote and market Vietnamese tourism, including translation costs, printing costs, and food and lodging expenses for experts while in Vietnam.

Project 2: Cultural Tourism Linked to Ethnic Festivals with a budget of 4.621 million dong, including the following expenditures.

1. Costs for supporting the organization of three spring fairs in Hanoi, Hue, or Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, including booth rental fees, decoration costs, and artistic performance costs.

2. Costs for supporting the organization of three representative spring festivals in Hanoi, Da Nang (or Hue), and Ho Chi Minh City, including festival poster costs, ethnic artistic performance costs, and fuel and travel expenses for central staff involved in organizing the festivals.

3. Costs for selecting fifteen representative festivals nationwide to contribute to developing these festivals into tourism products, including script development costs, market design costs, festival poster costs, artistic performance costs, training costs, director rental costs, fuel and travel expenses for central staff involved in organizing the festivals.

 

III. Project 3: Development and Upgrade of Tourist Areas with a budget of 1.650 million dong, including the following expenditures.

1. Costs for surveying the current status of typical national tourist areas and proposing management and exploitation regulations, including survey costs for eight northern tourist areas, five North Central tourist areas, eight Southern Central tourist areas, and eight Southern tourist areas; compiling survey data to develop management and exploitation regulations for tourist areas.

2. Costs for preparing feasibility reports for three key tourist areas in three regions: Tam Coc Bich Dong in Ninh Binh Province, Thuong An in Thua Thien Hue Province, and Phan Thiet -Mui Ne in Binh Thuan Province.

 

IV. Project 4: Improving the Quality of Tourism Products in Vietnam with a budget of 850 million dong, including the following expenditures.

1. Costs for organizing a hospitality competition and a tour guide competition throughout the industry, with the central budget ensuring funding from the National Tourism Action Program and 2000 tourism events to organize the competitions, including decoration costs, venue rental fees, and publicity costs for the competitions, as well as food, lodging, and travel expenses for members of the organizing committee and judges.

2. Costs for organizing training courses to improve the skills of tour guides and hospitality staff, with the central budget ensuring funding from the National Tourism Action Program and 2000 tourism events to organize the courses, including payment for instructors, procurement costs for practical materials (if applicable), and management costs for the classes (drinks, hall rental, travel expenses for instructors and organizers).

3. Costs for surveying and developing new tourism routes and thematic routes.

 

V. Project 5: Creating Favorable Conditions and Encouraging Tourism Activities with a budget of 440 million dong, including the following expenditures.

1. Costs for conducting joint surveys domestically and internationally (China, Thailand, Singapore, France) to develop mechanisms to encourage and develop Vietnamese tourism activities, including food, lodging, and travel expenses for staff conducting the surveys.

2. Costs for developing software for managing and registering guest stays.

 

VI. Project 6: Completing Organizational Structures and Enhancing the Effectiveness of State Management of Tourism with a budget of 455 million dong, including the following expenditures.

            Costs for investigating the labor force in the tourism industry nationwide include: costs for food, accommodation, and travel for staff conducting surveys and investigations, costs for printing survey forms, and costs for compiling investigation data.