Resolution No. 92/NQ-CP On certain measures to promote the development of Tourism in Vietnam in the new period

RESOLUTION

ON SEVERAL SOLUTIONS TO STRENGTHEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF VIETNAMESE TOURISM IN THE NEW PERIOD

__________________________________

 THE GOVERNMENT

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

Pursuant to Decree No. 08/2012/NĐ-CP dated February 16, 2012 of the Government promulgating the Operational Regulations of the Government;

BASED ON THE RESOLUTION OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE GOVERNMENT IN SEPTEMBER 2014 (RESOLUTION NO. 74/NQ-CP DATED OCTOBER 4, 2014),

RESOLUTION:

IN RECENT YEARS, WITH THE CONCERN OF THE PARTY AND THE STATE, THE TOURISM INDUSTRY HAS EXPERIENCED STRONG DEVELOPMENT, MAKING SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT; CONTRIBUTING TO STRUCTURAL ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION; ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS; CREATING MANY JOBS; ERADICATING POVERTY; RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS; PRESERVING AND PROMOTING THE VALUE OF NATIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE; BUILDING AND PROMOTING THE IMAGE OF A DYNAMIC, FRIENDLY, AND PEACEFUL VIETNAM. HOWEVER, SOME INDICATORS SUCH AS THE GROWTH RATE OF INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS IN VIETNAM, SOCIAL INCOME FROM TOURISM, THE PROPORTION OF TOURISM'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATIONAL GDP, AND THE COMPETITIVE CAPACITY OF VIETNAMESE TOURISM ARE STILL LOW COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION.

ALONGSIDE THESE ACHIEVEMENTS, VIETNAMESE TOURISM IS CURRENTLY FACED WITH MANY DIFFICULTIES AND CHALLENGES: THE WORLD SITUATION IS COMPLEX, WITH FINANCIAL CRISIS AND GLOBAL ECONOMIC RECESSION, POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS, AND DISEASE OUTBREAKS IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD, INTENSIFIED COMPETITION AMONG COUNTRIES IN THE REGION TO ATTRACT TOURISTS HAVE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.

DOMESTIC BUSINESS OPERATIONS ARE STILL FACING MANY DIFFICULTIES, WITH INSUFFICIENT RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPING TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE UNDERSTANDING OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN MANY PLACES IS LIMITED; INTER-DEPARTMENT COORDINATION IS INEFFECTIVE; THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF VARIOUS LEVELS FROM THE CENTRAL TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY UTILIZED; THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROMOTION AND MARKETING ACTIVITIES IS LOW; FOREIGN GUESTS STILL DEPEND ON CERTAIN MARKETS; TOURISM HUMAN RESOURCES AND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE DO NOT MEET DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS; INVESTMENT IN TOURISM IS INADEQUATE; SOME POLICIES TO PROMOTE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT ARE INAPPROPRIATE AND HAVE NOT BEEN ADJUSTED TIMELY; SECURITY, SAFETY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION AT SOME DESTINATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN MAINTAINED REGULARLY.

TO EXPLOIT AND MAXIMIZE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NATIONAL TOURISM RESOURCES, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND TO CREATE A BREAKTHROUGH IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN THE NEW PERIOD, THE GOVERNMENT REQUESTS MINISTERS OF THE MINISTRIES, HEADS OF GOVERNMENT-LEVEL ORGANIZATIONS, AND CHAIRMEN of the National Assembly;OF THE PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES OF PROVINCES AND MUNICIPALITIES DIRECTLY UNDER THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, AND THE COMMUNITY OF TOURISM BUSINESSES TO, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR FUNCTIONAL TASKS, FOCUS ON GUIDING, ORGANIZING, AND IMPLEMENTING SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS AND TASKS TO CREATE A BREAKTHROUGH IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM AS FOLLOWS:

1. ENHANCING SOCIETY'S UNDERSTANDING OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

a) ALL LEVELS AND SECTORS NEED TO ENHANCE THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE POSITION AND ROLE OF TOURISM AS AN INTEGRATED ECONOMY WITH DEEP CULTURAL CONTENT, INVOLVING MULTIPLE SECTORS AND HIGHLY SOCIALIZED, BRINGING POSITIVE EFFECTS TO ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, CONTRIBUTING TO ECONOMIC STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION, CREATING MANY JOBS, ERADICATING POVERTY; PROVIDING FAVORABLE CONDITIONS AND SECURING THE ENVIRONMENT FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT.

b) THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SHALL LEAD AND COOPERATE WITH THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM, THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, VIETNAM TELEVISION, VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY, VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY, AND OTHER MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES, CREATE BREAKTHROUGHS IN ENHANCING SOCIETY'S UNDERSTANDING OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROMOTION AND MARKETING ACTIVITIES BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.

c) THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM SHALL LEAD THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRITERIA, ORGANIZE RANKINGS, AND ANNOUNCE THE DEVELOPMENT INDEX OF TOURIST DESTINATIONS.

d) LOCALITIES, ESPECIALLY KEY TOURISM LOCALITIES, SHOULD STRENGTHEN THE DISSEMINATION AND WIDESPREAD PROMOTION OF DEEPER UNDERSTANDINGS, ENCOURAGING THE POPULATION TO VOLUNTARILY AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN MAINTAINING SECURITY AND ORDER, ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION; STRENGTHENING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CIVILIZED BEHAVIOR, RESPECTING LAWS; BUILDING CIVILIZED INTERACTION MOVEMENTS, WITH OPEN AND SINCERE ATTITUDES TOWARDS TOURISTS.

2. INCREASING GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

PRIORITY INVESTMENT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO MAKE TOURISM TRULY A LEADING ECONOMIC SECTOR THROUGH PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, AND INCENTIVE POLICIES.

a) THE GOVERNMENT AGREES ON THE BUDGET FOR IMPLEMENTING THE NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR TOURISM AND THE NATIONAL TOURISM PROMOTION PLAN IN 2015 AS FOLLOWS: BASED ON THE BUDGET ESTIMATE, THE MINISTER OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM SHALL APPROVE AND DETAIL THE BUDGET, ORGANIZE THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIVITIES USING FUNDS FROM THE STATE BUDGET IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW, BE RESPONSIBLE BEFORE THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE LAW; THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE SHALL PROVIDE FUNDS TO ORGANIZE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TWO NATIONAL TOURISM PROGRAMS TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL AND EFFECTIVE ACTIVITIES.

b) THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM:

- LEADS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE 2016-2020 PERIOD, SUBMITTING IT TO THE PRIME MINISTER FOR CONSIDERATION AND DECISION IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2015 AND EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTING THE ANNUAL PLAN OF THE PROGRAM; COOPERATES WITH RELATED MINISTRIES AND SECTORS TO STUDY AND PROPOSE SPECIAL AND BREAKTHROUGH POLICIES TO ATTRACT TOURISTS FROM POTENTIAL MARKETS; IMPROVING THE MECHANISMS FOR THE PRESERVATION AND EFFICIENT USE OF HERITAGES.

- LEADS AND COOPERATES WITH THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE TO DEVELOP A PROPOSAL FOR THE "TOURISM DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FUND" FROM SOCIALIZATION SOURCES, SUBMITTING IT TO THE PRIME MINISTER IN 2015.

c) THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND INVESTMENT:

- LEADS AND COOPERATES WITH THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM, RELATED MINISTRIES AND SECTORS, AND LOCALITIES TO DEVELOP INCENTIVE MECHANISMS TO ATTRACT INVESTMENTS, QUICKLY FORMING SOME NATIONAL KEY TOURISM ZONES WITH INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS, PROVIDING MOTIVATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF VIETNAMESE TOURISM.

- LEADS AND COOPERATES WITH THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM, AND RELATED LOCALITIES TO INCREASE SUPPORT FROM THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE, PROVIDING CONVENIENCE FOR TOURISTS TO ACCESS NATIONAL TOURISM ZONES AND NATIONAL TOURIST SPOTS ACCORDING TO THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR VIETNAMESE TOURISM UNTIL 2020, WITH A VISION TO 2030.

d) The People's Committees at all levels shall be responsible for ensuring a favorable environment, proactively allocating the budget, land fund, and implementing solutions to develop tourism; proposing the application of special mechanisms regarding land, investment capital, and strategic investors' selection to develop tourism in accordance with the conditions and characteristics of the locality.

3. Creating favorable conditions and ensuring security and safety to attract visitors and develop tourism.

a) The Ministry of Public Security shall take the lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and relevant agencies to review, study, and propose expanding the list of countries eligible for visa exemption in conjunction with national security and social order, while improving visa issuance procedures to create the most favorable conditions for international tourists visiting Vietnam.

b) The Ministry of Transport shall take the lead, coordinating with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to direct the acceleration of the process of opening up the skies in bilateral and multilateral international cooperation on civil aviation, expanding reciprocal traffic rights based on national interests, promoting tourism development; focusing on implementing projects to invest in cruise ports, terminals, and stopover points at transfer hubs to enhance connectivity and reduce travel time for tourists; directing the improvement of service quality for tourists on road, rail, air, and inland waterway routes.

c) The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall take the lead, coordinating with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to expand the international tourism market, reduce dependence on major markets; diversify, improve the quality and competitiveness of tourism products and services; strengthen the attraction of international tourists to stay longer and spend more in Vietnam; implement appropriate policies to encourage the development of domestic tourism markets, launch and effectively carry out the campaign "Vietnamese people prioritize traveling in Vietnam".

4. Supporting and resolving difficulties for tourism enterprises.

a) The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take the lead, coordinating with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Ministry of Finance to review legal regulations such as the Investment Law, Government Decrees guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Investment Law, etc., and recommend competent authorities to adjust them towards increasing incentives for investment and business activities in hotel, travel agency, eco-tourism, and community tourism sectors.

b) The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall take the lead, coordinating with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to review regulations on land allocation and land use tax to propose amendments aimed at reducing land use tax and land rental fees for projects investing in accommodation facilities and tourist areas that require large areas for landscape space.

c) The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead, coordinating with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and related ministries and sectors to review regulations on importing necessary specialized equipment and transportation means for high-end tourism development that are not yet produced domestically such as hovercrafts, yachts, seaplanes, small aircraft, hot air balloons meeting international standards, and report to the Government before June 30, 2015.

d) The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall take the lead, coordinating with relevant ministries, sectors, and agencies to study and submit to the Government regulations on electricity prices to facilitate tourism business operations in the second quarter of 2015.

5. Strengthening state management over tourism.

a) Enhancing the effectiveness of state management over tourism from central to local levels; promptly amending and supplementing the Tourism Law; improving and enhancing the capacity of state management over tourism at local levels.

b) The Ministry of Public Security shall take the lead, coordinating with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to build and implement measures to enhance the effectiveness of state management over security and order in the tourism sector; studying solutions to organize forces to ensure security and safety for tourists.

c) Ministry of Transport:

- Strengthening the direction to improve the quality of service provision in the aviation industry to create the best possible conditions for tourism development, aiming for all service providers at airports and on flights to have a dedicated attitude towards serving the development of the tourism industry.

- Taking the lead, coordinating with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to direct railway stations, ferry terminals, sea ports, and passenger transport vehicles to adequately staff for environmental sanitation and security; maintaining a friendly service attitude; organizing information guidance and support for tourists to ensure convenience, viewing this as the goal of the entire transportation sector's activities.

d) Ministries, sectors, and localities:

- Based on their assigned functions and tasks, strengthening coordination in managing tourism activities at destinations, ensuring hygiene, environment, and service quality according to recognized standards for serving tourists; urgently forming Tourist Support Centers in key tourism areas to effectively coordinate activities ensuring security and safety for tourists, implementing the principle of building Vietnam as a Safe-Friendly-Quality destination.

- Strengthening inspection, supervision, and urging compliance with legal regulations on entry-exit management, residence, and movement of foreign tourists to ensure health security and prevent disease outbreaks at border gates, historical sites, and tourist attractions; preventing and stopping individuals who exploit tourism activities for criminal acts or encroachments on national sovereignty.

đ) The Provincial People's Committee shall direct and organize the effective implementation of measures to protect the environment and ensure food safety; intensifying efforts to maintain public security and ensure safety for tourists in tourist areas and attractions.

6. Implementation organization.

a) The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall draft an action plan to implement the Resolution; take the lead in urging, inspecting, and supervising its implementation; compile and evaluate the progress of Resolution implementation, reporting to the Prime Minister in December each year.

b) Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, provincial People's Committees, and centrally governed city People's Committees:

- Develop action plans for their respective fields of management to implement and monitor the organization of the Resolution's implementation in order to immediately bring about changes in tourism development.

- Submit the action plans to the National Steering Committee on Tourism for coordinated monitoring.

- Conduct mid-term reviews and evaluate the implementation of the Resolution, and propose guidance and management measures of the Government for the subsequent period, to be submitted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister.

c) Every six months and annually, the National Steering Committee on Tourism assigns committee members to inspect the implementation of the Resolution and mechanisms, policies under laws on incentives for tourism development; report on the results of implementation and propose commendations for collectives and individuals who have achieved outstanding achievements.