On 29th May 2013, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) coordinated with the HCM City’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to hold a conference on launching tourism stimulus program 2013 in HCM City. The conference was chaired by Deputy General Director of VNAT Hoang Thi Diep.
At the conference, representative of the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism presented 4 specific contents of the tourism stimulus program 2013 including:
Firstly, the city will organize tourism stimulus activities in 2013 such as: the city's tourism sector associating the stimulus program with development of the sector in 2013; coordinating with HCM City Tourism Association and Vietnam Airlines to launch discount programs for domestic flights in 2013; calling Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism of provinces and cities to encourage and create favorable conditions for tourism enterprises to discount while ensuring services quality; implementing tourism advertisement and promotion in localities to attract tourists to HCM City…
Secondly, the HCM City’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will coordinate with the HCM City’s Department of Industry and Trade to hold program “Promotion Month” with promotional fairs, food festivals… aiming to maintain City’s social and economic growth.
Thirdly, fostering products development as well as improving tourist service quality in order to diversify tourist products and create unique products aiming to attract tourists.
Finally, enhancing tourism stimulus program through events in the year, such as: tourism festivals, food festivals, road shows, International Travel Expo…
At the conference, Mr. Tran Tri Dung, Deputy Director of Tourism Information Technology Center (VNAT) introduced official website of tourism stimulus program in 2013 (www.timelesscharm.vn). This website provides information on policies, linking programs, events and products as well as on localities, agencies and organizations that participate in tourism stimulus program 2013.
According to HCM City’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in the first 5 month of 2013, total number of int’l arrivals visiting HCM City estimated 1,627,460 arrivals, increasing by 7% over the same period last year and completing 40% plan of the year; total tourism revenue estimated 34,405 billion, up 15% y-o-y and 42% plan of the year.
It is considered as a good sign that the city's tourism growth still remains stable in difficult economic conditions of the country and the world.