Addressing the event, Politburo member and Secretary of the Hanoi Municipal Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue said that due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020, the global tourism industry suffered US$935 billion in damage, nearly 10 times more than during the 2009 economic crisis. For Hanoi, the tourism and service sectors account for 63% of its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP). In 2019, the tourism sector directly and indirectly contributed 12.54% to the city’s GRDP. In 2020, both international and domestic tourists plummeted (both decreased by about 70%), causing huge damage to the tourism industry. The total contribution of the city’s tourism industry to the citys GRDP was only about 3.4%.
Hue expressed his hope that the working session will create a new vitality for the tourism industry to develop once again in 2021, helping tourism become a spearhead economic sector.
At the meeting, the participants put forward ideas about solutions and plans to develop tourism in the near future, such as creating private branded events; focus on developing MICE tourism (Meeting, Incentive, Conference, Event); building a large exhibition and fair centre; organising a culinary introduction centre; building a package of tourism products for 2021, adding large scale monthly events to attract tourism; linking sports culture with tourism, (of which the Marathon in Hanoi is expected to become a focus); developing tourism projects associated with major investors; prioritising medium-term tourism projects to report to the city for approval.
Concluding the meeting, Hue acknowledged and highly lauded the efforts of the Department of Tourism and the Hanoi tourism industry over recent times. As a result, in the 2016-2019 period, Hanoi's tourism industry developed quite strongly and stably. The industry's targets have basically been met and have indeed exceeded the targets set by Resolution No. 06-NQ/TU.
Before the requirements, difficulties and challenges posed in 2021 are resolved, Hue advised that on the basis of Resolution No. 08-NQ/TU dated January 16, 2017 of the Politburo on "Developing tourism to become a key economic sector”and evaluating the implementation of Resolution No. 06-NQ/TU, the Party Committee Committee of the City People's Committee must advise and report to the Standing Committee of the Hanoi Party Committee on the issuing of further conclusions on implementing Resolution No. 06-NQ/TU or any new thematic resolution to direct tourism development with a strategic vision to 2030.
In the short term, the Hanoi Department of Tourism must make a plan to restore tourism in 2021 in the spirit of concentrating all their efforts on attracting domestic tourists to Hanoi and tourists to visit and travel in the city; taking advantage of opportunities arising from the organising of the SEA Games and Para Games, cultural events, sports, conferences, seminars, and exhibitions.
