Better training needed to address tourism manpower shortages

The tourism sector is facing a serious staff shortage after the COVID-19 pandemic, so improving training quality to meet recovery and development demand is now an urgent need.
Better training needed to address tourism manpower shortages ảnh 1Visitors in a boat tour of the Trang An Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh province (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The tourism sector is facing a serious staff shortage afterthe COVID-19 pandemic, so improving training quality to meet recovery anddevelopment demand is now an urgent need.

In2019, before the pandemic broke out, Vietnam had more than 2.5 million workersin the industry, including 750,000 working directly.

Hard hitby the pandemic, international tourism came to a halt while the domestic market wasalso affected in 2020, forcing travel companies to cut down 70 - 80% of theirstaff.

In2021, the number of those working full time accounted for just 25% of the 2020figure, workers quitting their jobs or having labour contracts terminated earlyabout 30%, and those suffering temporary furloughs 35%.

Therefore,since the industry was fully opened on March 15 last year, tourism businesseshave encountered staff shortages.

Dautu (Vietnam Investment Review) cited Cao Thi Ngoc Lan, Standing Vice Chairwomanof the Vietnam Tourism Association, as saying that the country is facing a heavy labour shortage, especially during major holidays.

Shealso pointed out a serious deficiency of highly skilled personnel, particularlyfor high-level management positions. Besides, the manpower imbalance amongregions is also a problem, leading to low service quality in some areas withstrong growth in the tourist number.

Thisindustry needs about 485,000 workers for accommodation facilities at present. Meanwhile,Vietnam is expected to record positive tourism growth during 2022 - 2030 when itwill need to add about 60,000 labourers to the sector annually, Lan added.

TheVietnam National Administration of Tourism said vocational schools and tourismcolleges are able to supply just 15,000 workers for the sector each year, andthat manpower training hasn’t meet demand in reality.

NguyenTien Dat, co-founder of the Prato tourism training centre, held that the existingmanpower is still weak at vocational, foreign language, and communicationskills, so it is necessary to strongly engage state agencies, schools, andbusinesses in promoting manpower quality.

Assoc.Prof. and Dr Pham Hong Long, Dean of the tourism faculty at the Hanoi-based Universityof Social Sciences and Humanities, suggested tourism training courses be internationalised,which will be a trend that many domestic training establishments will follow inthe time ahead./.
VNA

See more

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs the meeting (VNA)

PM urges proactive engagement with US on trade talks

Trade negotiations with the US must be calm, consistent, and flexible, aiming to protect national sovereignty, security, and interests, while upholding international commitments and pursuing “balanced interests, shared risks," said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Fisshing vessels in Quang Binh province (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam races against time to have EC’s "yellow card" lifted before Sept. 15

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment particularly focused on resolving all EC concerns before September 15, the deadline for submitting a progress report to the commission, as well as ensuring thorough preparations for the fifth inspection so as to secure the removal of the “yellow card” warning.

The daily reference exchange rate for the US dollar is set at 24,960 VND/USD on April 29. (Photo: VNA)

Reference exchange rate down April 29

The State Bank of Vietnam set the daily reference exchange rate for the US dollar at 24,960 VND/USD on April 29, down 4 VND from April 28.

Investment in artificial intelligence surges eightfold compared to 2023 (Photo: VNA)

Investment in AI in Vietnam increases eightfold

Vietnam is entering a new phase of growth, where innovation, science, and technology are at the forefront of shaping its future. From being an emerging market, Vietnam has now risen to become a strategic destination for technology investment in Southeast Asia, driven by the aspirations of the entrepreneurial community and strategic guidance from the government

The talks between Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Cambodian Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul on April 28 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Cambodia seek ways to bolster economic, trade ties

Vietnam and Cambodia inked an agreement on promoting bilateral trade for the 2025–2026 period, which provides preferential tariffs for many competitive goods from each side – much more favourable than those under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA).

President of Vietnam Luong Cuong (10th from left), Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith (ninth from left), and officials of the two countries at the inauguration ceremony of Wharf No. 3 of Lao - Viet International Port on April 28 (Photo: VNA)

New wharf at Lao - Viet Int’l Port inaugurated

The launch of Wharf No. 3 of Lao - Viet International Port expected to help ensure infrastructure for socio-economic development in both Vietnam and Laos, meeting the increasing demand for goods transportation.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi (centre), who is concurrently in charge of Peru pays a courtesy visit to Peru's Deputy Foreign Minister Felix Denegri Boza. (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam, Peru step up economic and trade cooperation

Peru is currently Vietnam’s sixth-largest trading partner in Latin America. However, the trade value, standing at 518 million USD, remains modest compared to the potential and real demand between the two complementary economies.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh speaks at the meeting with representatives from ministries, agencies, international institutions, banks, investment funds and investors in Hanoi on April 28. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy PM vows optimal conditions for firms to expand investment in int’l financial centres

Speaking at a meeting with representatives from ministries, agencies, international institutions, banks, investment funds and investors in Hanoi, Binh said that the Government of Vietnam is committed to always accompanying businesses, creating the most favourable conditions for enterprises to expand their investment in international financial centres in Vietnam as well as invest in other ecosystems that they are interested in.

Tunisia’s demand for imported goods remains high, especially for essential commodities such as raw coffee, rice, and sugar. Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Tunisia boost economic and trade cooperation

In 2024, trade between Vietnam and Tunisia reached 267 million USD, almost tripling the figure recorded in 2023. Vietnam’s main exports to Tunisia included footwear, raw coffee, pepper, cashew nuts, seafood, and machinery, while Vietnam imported seafood, dates, chemicals, and animal feed materials from Tunisia.

Local carmaker Kim Long Motor company and Korean Daon Mobility ink an agreement on exporting the local brand bus into the Korean market. Photo courtesy of Kim Long Motor (

Local carmaker to export buses to RoK

It’s expected that the first batch of 50 electric EV Buses will be delivered to the Republic of Korea (RoK) for operation in the second quarter this year.

Tourists from Tashkent to Da Nang (Photo: VNA)

Da Nang launches direct air route to Uzbekistan

Nguyen Thi Phuong, President of Prestige DMC Vietnam, noted that the charter service from Tashkent to Da Nang is being operated through a partnership between Prestige DMC Vietnam, Red Island Company, Centrium-Air Airways, and Prestige Travel Uzbekistan.

ASEAN, China promote cross-border payments

ASEAN, China promote cross-border payments

In the first quarter of 2025, the value of RMB transactions between China and Malaysia reached 102 billion RMB (4 billion USD), up 27% year-on-year, while transactions with Cambodia reached 5 billion RMB (686 million USD), an increase of 45% compared to the same period in 2024.