Decision No. 121/2006/QĐ-TTg on approving the National Action Program for Tourism for the period 2006-2010

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the approval of the national action program on

tourism for the period 2006 – 2010

_____________

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Considering the proposal of the General Department of Tourism at Circular No. 56/TCDL-BCN dated January 17, 2006, and Circular No. 499/TCDL-BCN dated May 5, 2006, and the proposal of the Ministry of Finance at Circular No. 5506/BTC-HCSN dated April 27, 2006.

Pursuant to …;

Article 1. Approve the National Action Program on Tourism for the period 2006 - 2010 with the main contents as follows:

1. Objectives of the Program:

a) General Objective:

The National Action Program on Tourism for the period 2006 - 2010 aims to promote the development of tourism in Vietnam, striving to make Vietnam one of the countries with a developed tourism industry in the region by 2010.

b) Specific Objectives:

- For the period 2006 - 2010: the growth rate of international tourists will increase by 10 - 20% annually; the growth rate of domestic tourists will increase by 15 - 20% annually. Tourism revenue in 2010 is expected to reach approximately 4 - 5 billion USD;

- Improve quality, diversify tourism products and services;

- Enhance Vietnam's position internationally;

- Promote sustainable tourism development.

2. Main tasks:

- Vigorously promote tourism publicity and promotion;

- Diversify and improve the quality of Vietnamese tourism products, protect tourism natural resources and environment;

- Train and develop human resources for tourism;

- Strengthen state management over tourism.

3. Contents of the Program:

a) Publicity, promotion, and tourism marketing; promoting international integration; raising public awareness about tourism development; enhancing Vietnam's image internationally;

b) Attracting domestic and foreign resources to invest in tourism development;

c) Diversifying and improving the quality of tourism products, developing unique competitive products compared to other countries in the region and worldwide; protecting natural resources and environment, promoting sustainable tourism development;

d) Reforming and strengthening institutional mechanisms and policies for tourism development; encouraging various economic sectors to invest in tourism development; promoting international integration.

Article 2. Funding for the implementation of the National Action Program on Tourism for the period 2006 - 2010

The funding for implementing the Program will be secured from the following sources: central budget, local budgets, contributions from enterprises, and other mobilized funds, including:

1. Central budget (allocated to the General Department of Tourism): 121.109 billion VND, of which:

a) In 2006: 27.737 billion VND, sourced from the central budget's economic affairs expenditure for 2006 but not yet allocated;

b) From 2007 to 2010: based on the provisions of the State Budget Law and the financial budget prepared by the General Department of Tourism, reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Finance within the annual state budget according to the progress of implementation.

During the implementation of the Program, if there are necessary tasks that arise and require funding to achieve the Program's objectives, the Ministry of Finance shall coordinate with the General Department of Tourism to submit to the Prime Minister for additional funding to implement the Program.

2. Local budgets: based on the tasks and contents of the Program of each province and centrally-administered city, the Ministry of Finance and the General Department of Tourism will guide the allocation of funds in the annual state budget according to the provisions of the State Budget Law for localities to implement.

3. Contributions from enterprises and other mobilized funds.

Article 3. Implementation

1. General Department of Tourism:

a) Based on the contents of the Program and current regulations, the General Department of Tourism shall take the lead in drafting specific projects (including purpose, requirements, tasks, resource needs, implementation schedule, responsibility assignment,...) and submit them to the competent authority for approval (or approve according to its authority);

b) Prepare the financial budget for each project in accordance with the State Budget Law (for those parts funded by the central budget), while coordinating with the Ministry of Finance to estimate the financial resources for tasks funded by local budgets and non-state budget sources;

c) Annually organize mid-term reviews and evaluations of the Program's implementation, and propose solutions to the Prime Minister for handling any arising issues or obstacles (if any);

d) By the fourth quarter of 2010, conduct a final evaluation and report to the Prime Minister on the results of the Program's implementation;

e) Coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment to establish financial management and usage regulations for the Program's funding sources; develop financial mechanisms to mobilize non-budgetary resources to implement the Program's contents.

2. Ministry of Finance:

a) Review the financial budgets of projects in accordance with their functions and responsibilities;

b) Based on the progress of project implementation, aggregate and allocate funds in the annual state budget according to the State Budget Law;

c) Guide provinces and centrally-administered cities to allocate funds for implementation (for tasks funded by local budgets);

d) Take the lead in coordinating with the General Department of Tourism and the Ministry of Planning and Investment:

- Establish financial mechanisms to mobilize non-budgetary resources to implement the Program's contents;

- Issue financial management and usage regulations for the Program's funding sources.

3. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall cooperate with the Ministry of Finance and the General Department of Tourism to study and develop financial mechanisms to mobilize non-budgetary resources to implement the Program's contents.

Article 4. This Decision takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 5. The Minister of Finance, the Minister of Planning and Investment, the Director of the General Department of Tourism, and the heads of relevant agencies are responsible for enforcing this Decision./.