Reporter: In what direction do you think Vietnam
tourism would change when Vietnam is a WTO’s member?
Mr. Cao Van The: in my opinion, right after
Vietnam becoming 150th member of WTO, Vietnam tourism will see
remarkable changes as follows:
First is tourist quantity, second is vigorous growth in terms of
tourist service types and the last one is a fierce competition
between domestic and oversea travel services providers.
Reporter: India has long made its name in terms of
medical tourism , Vietnam has recently had a plan to offer
such kind of service. Ba Ria-Vung Tau has launched a medical
resort and Hanoi will soon write its name on the list with a
similar resort. What do you think of that kind of service? Does
your Group have any plans to develop such service in the future?
Mr. Cao Van The: medical tourism is a type of
rehabilitation ones. We are now developing garden house clubs to
take care of rehabilitation demand. Other tourist service types
namely tourism coupled with purchase and entertainment ect. are
in the embryonic stage in Vietnam so tourists come here for
refreshing and relaxing purposes and most of them are
foreigners.
Vietnam is a nation well known for stable
politics, friendly and hospitable people and age-old traditional
medicine. Medical tourism will enjoy strong growth in Vietnam if
we have a sound plan and it surely brings in great profit. As
for ATI Group, we have developed rehabilitation tourist services
in Thac Da Resort. We have invested over 100billion Dongs in Van
Don Resort also. To date, we have concluded a contract with an
Australian partner to invest in Bai Tu Long-Bai Dai (Van Don
Dist., Quang Ninh province). As scheduled, the project will have
been put into operation by the end of 2007.
Reporter: under the direction of Vietnam authorities,
tourism should be developed on traditional culture basis. In
fact, many historic sites as Co Loa, Hue Ancient Capital City
are neglected and gravely deteriorated while modern
rehabilitation resorts are mushrooming. What are your comments
on the issue and does your Group has any plans to invest in
this field?
Mr. Cao Van The: According to me, it is the issue
that needs serious consideration from Government, Vietnam
National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and other relevant
authorities. Businesses need to be guaranteed in terms of
interest before they channel fund to any investment projects. It
is a must to be clearly informed in advance of what they should
do and what they achieve in return, upon which they themselves
will chalk out efficient business plans. China is a typical
model in that terms. They take the most advantage of traditional
culture, for example they vividly rebuilt many scenes from
well-known films namely Westbound Itinerary, Pink palace
dream... tourists, coming there, have chance to directly involve
in performance in famous films. It is the time for us to take
this issue into consideration. To translate it into reality, we
should at first have an overall plan then a harmonious
coordination between VNAT and relevant authorities at local
levels.
As for ATI Group, we are willing to
invest in Coloa historic site if there is a clear plan. We can
recreate historical scenes, tourists will have chance to join
hand in a performance like An Duong King building citadel... of
course, such services will be offered at high price but I am
sure this kind of service will be a magnet to tourists,
especially foreign ones. Such souvenir as magic cross-bows, Mi
Chau Princess images... will be produced from valuable materials
and available for sale.
Reporter: in the context of international
integration, What would you suggest to the Government and
relevant agencies to boost national tourism?
Mr. Cao Van The: First we should have an overall
plan to develop Vietnam tourism. VNAT should collaborate with
local governments to hire prestige companies, even those from
abroad to do planning in detail, which areas suitable for
villas building, which areas for garden houses, shopping malls
ect.
Second, human resource plays an important
role in tourism industry. Our tourist staff should be equipped
with methodical trainning both on culture and foreign languages.
A deep knowledge on our own country is not enough. It would be
better if we are aquainted with customers’ social and cultural
norms. To deal with this issue, according to me, VNAT should
have plans to cooperate with well-known training colleges from
France, the US and China... to improve our staff’s skills which
in return will act as a launching pad to boost Vietnam tourism
in the present and in the future as well.
Third, Government and VNAT should
establish a Tourist Academy under the management of VNAT to
provide our staff with methodical training in the fields of room
service, bar... To date there have been around 70 training
centers and most of these ones offer non-intensive courses which
hardly meet the demand.
Fourth, Vietnam should set up a Tourist
Group, belonging to VNAT, specialzed in tourist business which
not only guarantees revenue but also prevent unorganization
among tourist business community. This Group will flexibly
collaborate with other relevant authorites to do business with
the top priority is business development.
Reporter: thank you.
(source: Vietnam Communist Party website)
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