The opening ceremony was honoured with the presence of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh; leading comrades, former leaders of the Party and State; leaders of many ministries, departments, branches and localities across the country; representatives of international agencies in Vietnam; businesses and thousands of people and visitors attended the event.

P.M. Pham Minh Chinh speaking at the ceremony. Photo: TITC

Past 2 years, in the context of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, complicated and prolonged developments have directly affected socio-economic activities, in which tourism is one of the most heavily affected industries.

The Government shares and sympathises with the accumulated difficulties of the tourism industry, businesses, workers and people involved in tourism service activities. The Government and Prime Minister have directed, promulgated and implemented policies to support businesses, guides and workers in the tourism industry, and at the same time determined, the most fundamental resolution  is to take drastic measures to quickly control the pandemic, resume tourism activities soon, and reopen tourism.

Pandemic control is the prioritised factor to reopen, recover and promote the development of tourism in the new normal.

Vietnam officially resumes fully tourism activities from 15th March 2022 with the spirit adapting flexibly, safely and controlling the pandemic effectively.

Thereby marking the return of the country's tourism industry, meeting the entertainment and tourism demands of the people, domestic and international visitors.

Photo: TITC

However, new conditions, new circumstances, new opportunities require new thinking and ways of doing things to turn "risk" into "opportunity". In the context that the pandemic is still present, tourism activities need to be organised safely, suitably, in accordance with the unified, synchronous and effective coordination among all levels, sectors, localities and the active participation of residents, businesses and visitors.

At the Opening ceremony of the Visit Vietnam Year, the P.M asked ministries, Quang Nam Province and localities of the country to continuously maintain manners and make efforts to overcome difficulties and challenges, actively coordinate to implement a number of important contents as follows:

Firstly, continue to consistently adhere to the policy of developing tourism into a leading economic sector, integrating tourism development with conservation and promotion of heritage values and national cultural identity;  develop tourism in the direction of professionalism, modernity, civilization, quality and efficiency.

Secondly, focus on building a green tourism environment in accordance with the theme of the Visit Vietnam Year 2022. It is a tourism environment in which there is friendliness and safety between people and visitors; it is the commitment of all stakeholders, including the State, businesses and people, to develop tourism without negatively affecting natural resources and the ecological environment.

Thirdly, maximise potentials and advantages, promote linkages and cooperation between localities and regions, form a chain of destinations, and promote the creative strength of each people in the region to create synthesis strength for tourism development.

Fourthly, it is necessary to be proactive, flexible and further promote the opening of the international tourism market in association with safe and flexible adaptation in the context of the new normal, ensuring safety and reasonably, in line with the programme on rapid recovery and sustainable socio-economic development of our country.

Fifthly, implement policies to create favourable conditions for tourism to develop sustainably. Enhance investment attraction; rationally capitalise on the potentials, preserve the ecological environment; ensure security and safety for tourism.

Additionally, ministries, branches of the Central need to coordinate and cooperate closely with provinces and cities, creating favourable conditions and promptly removing difficulties in tourism activities and attracting investment; promote socialisation, public-private cooperation in the operation and development of the tourism industry, promote other industries to develop together, create jobs for people in their own land and homeland, contribute to reduce poverty, actively transform the economic structure, contribute to creating a new face for the country and its homeland. Continue to research and propose a number of mechanisms and policies to support and promote tourism activities, businesses and the tourism industry in general.

Last but not least, promote media communication and strongly promote Vietnam tourism to the world in many different channels and forms. Especially introducing famous landmarks, unique features of nature, culture and people of Vietnam, which focus on introducing intangible culture. At the same time, expanding services, attract investment in tourism development, improving competitiveness so that Vietnam is always an attractive destination.

The P.M continues to emphasise: The Government of Vietnam has identified the theme of 2022 as "Unity, discipline, proactive adaptation, safety, efficiency, and development recovery". Along with this common theme, the "keywords" of Vietnam tourism in 2022 and the coming period will be: Peace, cooperation, development, greenism, safety, friendliness, digitalisation and connection.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, MOCST’s Minister. Photo: TITC

In response, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, MOCST’s Minister, Head of the Visit Vietnam Year 2022 Steering Committee said that, the Opening ceremony of the Visit Vietnam Year 2022 held in Hoi An with the theme “Green tourism destination” is one of the vivid examples of the fact that the whole industry is concretising the Resolution of the Party, Government and National Assembly on efforts to recover the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic; especially after the Government agreed to fully reopen tourism from 15th March 2022.

Mr. Hung also emphasised, the MOCST is deeply and fully aware that tourism products and green tourist destinations always bear the imprint of culture, because tourism is not just a pure economic sector, but also a general economic sector.

After this launching ceremony, the MOCST will make more efforts to focus on directing in accordance with the spirit and guidelines stated by the Prime Minister, that is: Unity, discipline, proactive adaptation, safety, efficiency, and development recovery.

The minister believes that in the near future, the whole industry will receive more attention  to develop tourism, products - greening destinations; step-up tourism promotion, restructure the tourism industry towards quality and sustainability.

Mr. Le Tri Thanh, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Quang Nam Province. Photo: TITC

Mr. Le Tri Thanh, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Quang Nam Province stated that, together with the whole country, the locality aspires to restore and develop tourism activities. "Green tourism will be an indispensable tourism trend chosen by mankind, because it enhances people's sense of respect for nature, preserving cultural identity, protecting the ecological environment and restoring biodiversity", he said.

Leaders of Quang Nam Province clarified that, the Visit Vietnam Year 2022 chose the theme “Quang Nam - Green tourism destination” aiming to convey the message to friends and visitors from all over the world about a Quang Nam that takes green and sustainable development as the main pillar.

At the ceremony, delegates and visitors enjoyed an art performance with the theme Quang Nam - Green Tourism Destination with three chapters lasting nearly two hours, with the participation of more than 600 actors. Chapter 1 is titled "Endless Beauty", Chapter 2 is "On the Heritage Domain", and Chapter 3 is "Integrating - Shining".

Some photos from the Opening ceremony (Photo: TITC):

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