Vietnam 's travel sector was ranked 14th in the region last year and80th overall, up nine places since the last assessment in 2009,according to the recent Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2011from the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Vietnam's higher position can be attributed to its rich cultural resources(ranked 36th), with several World Heritage cultural sites, internationalfairs and exhibitions, and its strong creative industries.
"Another attraction is Vietnam 's natural resources, ranked 24thfor its World Heritage natural sites and diverse fauna. These attributesare reinforced by the country's price competitiveness (16th)," thereport stated.
However, in order to strengthencompetitiveness, the WEF report recommended that, " Vietnam mustfurther develop its transport infrastructure and tourism infrastructure(110th and 115th), while ensuring that the sector is developed in anenvironmentally sustainable way."
In addition, many tour operators in Vietnam complain about the country's poor tourism infrastructure.
The WEF report also revealed that Vietnam 's tourism infrastructureranked low in both international and regional fields, standing at 110thout of 139. Vietnam received a score of 0.2 for the number of hotelrooms per 100 people, ranking 89th among 139 countries. MeanwhileSingapore , Malaysia and Thailand came in at 37th, 48th and 53rd,respectively.
The Travel & TourismCompetitiveness Report 2011 is published within the framework of theCentre for Global Competitiveness and Performance and the IndustryPartnership Programme for Aviation, Travel&Tourism.
The aim of the Travel&Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), whichcovered a record 139 economies last year, is to provide a comprehensivestrategic tool for measuring "the factors and policies that develop thetravel sectors in different countries."
"Thedetailed assessments of travel and tourism environments in countriesworld-wide can improve the industry's competitiveness in their nationaleconomies, thereby contributing to national growth and prosperity. Italso allows countries to track their progress over time in the variousareas measured," the report said.
The criteria forranking are based on three broad categories. These categories includethe subindexes of the Travel and Tourism (T&T) regulatory framework;the T&T business environment and infrastructure; and the T&Thuman, cultural, and natural resources.
The threesubindexes cover policy rules and regulations; environmentalsustainability; safety and security, health and hygiene; prioritisationof T&T; air transport infrastructure; ground transportinfrastructure; tourism infrastructure; ICT infrastructure; pricecompetitiveness in the T&T industry, human resources; affinity forT&T; natural resources; cultural resources.
Since the last assessment in 2009, the tourism sector in the world hasfaced a myriad of obstacles. It is now emerging from the most difficultperiod in its recent history. The industry has faced not only a globaleconomic crisis and volatile oil prices, but also climatic disturbances,multiple security incidents, pandemics, and strikes among industrypersonnel.
"Following all these shocks, the globalsector is now witnessing a gradual recovery, with emerging marketsleading the way. Indeed, after a significant contraction in 2009,international tourist arrivals picked up again in 2010 and have returnedto their pre-crisis peak level," the report stated.
The World Travel&Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that from directand indirect activities, the travel sector now accounts for a remarkable9.2 percent of global GDP, 4.8 percent of world exports, and 9.2percent of world investment.-VNA
Vietnam's higher position can be attributed to its rich cultural resources(ranked 36th), with several World Heritage cultural sites, internationalfairs and exhibitions, and its strong creative industries.
"Another attraction is Vietnam 's natural resources, ranked 24thfor its World Heritage natural sites and diverse fauna. These attributesare reinforced by the country's price competitiveness (16th)," thereport stated.
However, in order to strengthencompetitiveness, the WEF report recommended that, " Vietnam mustfurther develop its transport infrastructure and tourism infrastructure(110th and 115th), while ensuring that the sector is developed in anenvironmentally sustainable way."
In addition, many tour operators in Vietnam complain about the country's poor tourism infrastructure.
The WEF report also revealed that Vietnam 's tourism infrastructureranked low in both international and regional fields, standing at 110thout of 139. Vietnam received a score of 0.2 for the number of hotelrooms per 100 people, ranking 89th among 139 countries. MeanwhileSingapore , Malaysia and Thailand came in at 37th, 48th and 53rd,respectively.
The Travel & TourismCompetitiveness Report 2011 is published within the framework of theCentre for Global Competitiveness and Performance and the IndustryPartnership Programme for Aviation, Travel&Tourism.
The aim of the Travel&Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), whichcovered a record 139 economies last year, is to provide a comprehensivestrategic tool for measuring "the factors and policies that develop thetravel sectors in different countries."
"Thedetailed assessments of travel and tourism environments in countriesworld-wide can improve the industry's competitiveness in their nationaleconomies, thereby contributing to national growth and prosperity. Italso allows countries to track their progress over time in the variousareas measured," the report said.
The criteria forranking are based on three broad categories. These categories includethe subindexes of the Travel and Tourism (T&T) regulatory framework;the T&T business environment and infrastructure; and the T&Thuman, cultural, and natural resources.
The threesubindexes cover policy rules and regulations; environmentalsustainability; safety and security, health and hygiene; prioritisationof T&T; air transport infrastructure; ground transportinfrastructure; tourism infrastructure; ICT infrastructure; pricecompetitiveness in the T&T industry, human resources; affinity forT&T; natural resources; cultural resources.
Since the last assessment in 2009, the tourism sector in the world hasfaced a myriad of obstacles. It is now emerging from the most difficultperiod in its recent history. The industry has faced not only a globaleconomic crisis and volatile oil prices, but also climatic disturbances,multiple security incidents, pandemics, and strikes among industrypersonnel.
"Following all these shocks, the globalsector is now witnessing a gradual recovery, with emerging marketsleading the way. Indeed, after a significant contraction in 2009,international tourist arrivals picked up again in 2010 and have returnedto their pre-crisis peak level," the report stated.
The World Travel&Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that from directand indirect activities, the travel sector now accounts for a remarkable9.2 percent of global GDP, 4.8 percent of world exports, and 9.2percent of world investment.-VNA
