05 Tourism development policies in Vietnam

05 Tourism development policies in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. Rules for tourism development in Vietnam

According to Article 4 of the Law on Tourism 2017, the development of tourism in Vietnam is based on the following rules:

- Develop targeted and sustainable tourism in line with strategies, master plans and plans

- Develop tourism together with preservation and upholding of national cultural identity values, natural resources, exploitation of advantages of each area and promotion of regional cluster.

- Ensure national sovereignty, national defense and security, social order and security, expand external relations and international integration, and promote the images of Vietnam and its people.

- Protect national and community interests, lawful rights and interests of tourists, and organizations and individuals doing tourism business.

- Develop both domestic and international tourism; respect and fairly treat tourists.

2. 05 Tourism development policies in Vietnam

(1) The State shall introduce policies to mobilize sources for tourism development to ensure tourism is a national spearhead industry.

(2) Organizations and individuals doing tourism business shall be entitled to the highest level of investment incentive and assistance when the State issues and adopts policies on investment incentive and assistance.

(3) The State shall give priority to provision of funding for the following activities:

- Inspection, assessment, preservation, enhancement and development tourism resources;

- Formulation of master plans for tourism development;

- Tourism promotion, development of national and local tourism trademarks;

- Construction of infrastructure in service of tourism development.

(4) The State shall apply assistance policies to the following activities:

- Investment in high-quality tourism infrastructure and services;

- Research into and orientation towards the development of tourism products;

- Provision of training in tourism;

- Investment in new tourism products that have positive impacts on the environment and increase the participation of local communities; investment in sea and island tourism, eco-tourism, community-based tourism, cultural tourism and other typical tourism products;

- Application of modern science and technology to the management and development of tourism;

- Development of tourism in areas with tourism potential; use of local human resources;

- Investment in establishment of large-scale tourism service complexes; duty-free shops and shopping centers in service of tourists.

(5) The State shall introduce policies to enable tourists to travel, stay, enter, exit, transit and follow customs procedures, facilitate value added tax refund, and protect other lawful rights and interests of tourists.

(Article 5 of the Law on Tourism 2017)

3. Prohibited acts in tourism activities in Vietnam

Specifically, in Article 9 of the Law on Tourism 2017, individuals and organizations are strictly prohibited from performing the following acts in tourism activities:

- Cause harm to national sovereignty and interests, national defense, security, social order and security, national cultural traditions, ethics and fine traditions and customs.

- Abuse tourism activities to illegally take people abroad or into Vietnam.

- Damage tourism resources and environment.

- Discriminate against tourists and make illicit profits from tourists; scramble for tourists or insist on or force tourists to purchase goods or use services.

- Running a tourism business in case of ineligibility for business, without license or in case of failure to conditions for running business during operation in accordance with this Law and relevant regulations of law.

- Use the license for provision of tour of another travel service provider or allow another organization or individual to use the license for provision of tour to do business.

- Act as a tour guide without satisfying all conditions.

- Advertise the wrong category or rating of the tourist accommodation establishment that has been recognized by a competent authority; advertise category and rating of the tourist accommodation establishment that is yet to be recognized by a competent authority.

- Other acts prohibited by relevant laws.

Thanh Rin

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE