Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

With international tourist arrivals to Vietnam exceeding 6 million in the first three months of this year, the highest ever recorded, experts believe that a great opportunity is opening up for the country’s tourism industry in 2025.

The sector is quickly launching promotional campaigns and demand stimulation efforts to attract more foreign visitors to boost incoming travel and enhance its position on the global tourism map.

In March, the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) launched a special portal for tourism promotion in 2025 at https://2025.vietnam.travel, aimed at updating information and policies regarding visa exemptions for citizens of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland under Resolution 11/NQ-CP of the Government. VNAT is also working on the tourism promotion programme for 2025 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to implement Resolution 11/NQ-CP.

It has also updated the list of outbound tourism agencies registered to welcome visitors under Resolution 11/NQ-CP, along with promotional programmes and service discounts offered by localities and businesses for tourists.

To promote the image of Vietnam to foreign friends, the VNAT has enhanced the provision of information through the website https://vietnam.travel and social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Focus is placed on promoting the new government policy offering visa exemptions for 12 countries starting from March 15, 2025; introducing Michelin-starred restaurants in Da Nang city, tours to cultural, culinary, and historical sites in Hanoi, and highlighting the 12 best attractions in Vietnam as recommended by The Times UK, and other prominent travel trends.

Regarding the domestic tourism promotion plan, the authority's website - https://vietnamtourism.gov.vn - will continue to strengthen its communication efforts on various cultural and tourism activities and events taking place across Vietnam throughout 2025 to attract domestic tourists.

An open and flexible visa policy is one of the key factors that attracts international tourists to Vietnam and has shown positive results in recent times.

On March 10, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 06/CT-TG regarding key tasks to adapt to global and regional situations in order to achieve growth targets, maintain macroeconomic stability, curb inflation, and ensure the major balances of the economy in 2025 and beyond. The directive requires relevant agencies to research and propose the continued expansion of visa exemption and incentives, significant reductions in administrative procedures, and the upgrading of the e-visa system to attract international tourists.

To enhance Vietnam's position on the global tourism map, tourism leaders have determined that the only way forward is to pursue green development, given the need of accelerating and maintaining sustainable values.

According to General Secretary of the Vietnam Tourism Association Vu Quoc Tri, if businesses only focus on peak holiday seasons, the entire industry will lack stability and will not be able to develop sustainably. Therefore, tourism plans need to be built with an annual vision. To achieve this, businesses must invest in products, target markets, and promotional methods in a systematic way.

Once tourism attraction runs independent of seasons or festivals, with more focus on the quality and diversity of products to create experiences suitable for each customer segment, will it be possible to extend stay durations, increase spending, and foster sustainable business growth, thereby enabling breakthrough development with real strength, added Tri./.