Decision No. 321/QD-TTg approving the national action program on tourism for the 2013-2020 period

30 THE PRIME MINISTER Decision No. 321/QD-TTg of February 18, 2013, approving the national action program on tourism for the 2013-2020 period THE PRIME MINISTER Pursuant to the December 25, 2001 Law on Organization of the Government; Pursuant to the June 14, 2005 Tourism Law; Pursuant to the Prime Ministers Decision No. 2473/QD-TTg of December 30, 2011, approving the strategy for development of Vietnam s tourism through 2020, with a vision toward 2030; At the proposal of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, DECIDES: Article 1. To approve the national action program on tourism for the 2013-2020 peliod (the Program), with the following principal contents: 1. Objectives of the program a/ General objectives To contribute to achieving the objectives set forth in the strategy for development of Vietnam's tourism through 2020, with a vision toward 2030. To strive for the target that by 2020, tomism will be basically developed into a spearhead and professional indust1y with fairly complete and modem technical and physical foundations and high-quality, diverse and branded tomist products deeply imbued with national cultural identity, and capable of lssut> nos 11-12/Ft>bruarv 2013 (Cong Bao nos 127-128/Febroary 26, 2013) competing with other countries in the region and the world; To build a system of tourist products based on resource advantages along the line of attaching impo1tance to investment in improving service quality, promoting prominent values of tourism resources of regions and areas and assuring the principle of sustainable tomism development. To develop highly competitive tomist products suitable to target markets of Vietnam's tourism, attaching impo1tance to the markets of high-spending and long-stay tourists; To build national tourism brands, brands of regional tomist products and brands of typical types of tourism indicative of localities and businesses, find a niche for Vietnam's tourism brands at home and abroad with a view to raising the competitiveness of Vietnam's tourism in the region and the world, and increase the effectiveness of tourism business and actively contributing to the national socio­ economic development. To increase tomism administration capacity through consolidating the state management apparan1s; to pe1fect institutions and policies and enhance inter-sectoral coordination to facilitate tourism development; and to increase the effect and effectiveness of state management and the quality of officials perfonning the state management of tourism from the central to local levels. b/ Specific objectives To attain the targets on tourist aITivals and total revenues from tourists set fo1th in the strategy for development of Vietnam's tomism through 2020, with a vision toward 2030: By 2015, to attract 7-7.5 million international Issue nos 11-12/Februarv 2013 (Cong Bao nos 127-128/February 26, 2013) tourist anivals, serve 36-37 million domestic tourist anivals and earn a total revenue of USD 10-11 billion. By 2020, these figures will respectively be 10-10.5 million, 47-48 million and USD 18-19 billion; By 2015, some 20 typical and high-quality tourist products with particular features will be developed and transferred to localities for management and commercialization. By 2020, this figure will be 50. On average, at least 5-6 typical tourist products suitable to each key market or group of key markets of Vietnam's tourism and 3-4 high-quality tourist products for the domestic tourist market will be annually developed. Priolity will be given to the development of products of sea and island tourism, cultural tomism, community tomism and eco-tourism along the direction of sustainable development, while special attention will be paid to tourism development in ethnic minority areas; By 2015, to develop and operate at least 5 tourism quality management programs such as those on management of tomist accommodation se1vice quality; management of travel se1vice quality; management of service quality at tourist zones and sites; management of the quality of tourist transpo1tation se1vices; and management of the quality of other se1vices; By 2015 and 2020 respectively, to increase the quality of30% and 70% of tourist products of tourist zones and sites nationwide. To suppo1t 30% of international travel companies in commercializing and developing tourist products by forming associations to jointly develop and commercialize a type of tourist product, share a key international tourist market or jointly implement a tourism 31 stimulation program in coordination with airlines, services providers and shopping centers. By 2020, to suppo1t 100% of national tourist zones and sites and key tourist areas in implementing the program on improving the quality of the tourist environment (both naturally and humanely) so as to contribute to increasing the quality of tourist se1vices; By 2015, to build 3-4 regional tourism brands and carry out brand development activities; by 2020, to build brands and cany out brand development activities for 7 tourist regions of Vietnam; By 2020, to suppo1t the building of 30 brands for typical types of tourism of localities and enterprises; By 2015, 90% of central-level officials perfo1ming the state management of tourism will be trained in tourism administration, foreign languages and info1matics and provided with updated knowledge in confo1mity with their working requirements; 50% of officials in sectors related to tourism such as customs, police, border guard, etc., will be trained in and updated with info1mation on, and behavior patterns applied in, the tourism sector; by 2020, 100% of local-level officials perfo1ming the state management of tourism will be trained in professional knowledge on tourism. 2. Subjects, scope and duration of implementation of the Program a/ Subjects The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall act as the agency in charge of implementing the Program on the basis of coordinating with related ministries, sectors 32 and localities in implementing inter-sectoral activities to facilitate and accelerate tomism development. b/ Scope The Program will be implemented nationwide on the basis of the master plan on development of Vietnam's tourism and the master plan on development of Vietnam's tourist regions. c/ Implementation duration The Program will be implemented from 2013 through 2020. To conduct the preliminaiy and final review of the Program in 2015 and 2020, respectively. 3. Activities under the Program a/ Supporting the development of tourist products To study target markets of Vietnam's tourism so as to direct the development of appropriate tourist products. + To study, survey and collect info1mation about the domestic tourist market to serve the development of tourist products to meet the domestic tourism demand and increase the domestic tourism demand toward cultural, ecological, convalescent, weekend and shopping tours; + To study, survey and collect info1mation about the international tourist market to serve the development of tourist products suitable to the tastes of key markets of Vietnam's tourism already identified in the strategy for development of Vietnam's tourism through 2020, with a vision toward 2030; To support the development of tourist products suitable to target markets ofVietnam's tourism on the basis of tapping tourism resource advantages and making the full use of typical lssut> nos 11-12/Ft>bruarv 2013 (Cong Bao nos 127-128/Febroary 26, 2013) characteristics of 7 tourist zones in Vietnam; + To evaluate the cunent status of tomist zones and sites proposed for recognition at the national or local level so as to serve the management and development of tourist products. + To conduct researches and organize surveys, seminars and expe1t consultations to select and develop high-quality, typical tourist products with particular features following the themes of National Tourism Years, thus creating a highlight for attracting tourists, assming targeted investment in developing and achieving effectiveness of the exploitation of resources. To combine development with sale of tourist products by travel companies. To transfer models of commercializing, managing and controlling the quality of tourist products to localities. To give priority to the development of the following products: . Tourist products which are Vietnam's advantages such as sea and island tourism, cultural tomism and eco-tomism; . Theme tourist products serving National Tourism Yeai·s; tomist products benefiting fo1m the advantage oftranspo1tation such as seaway, ailway, railway, road and 1ive1way tomist routes; and some other supportive tourist products such as meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (MICE) tomism, culinary tomism, golf tourism and healthcare tourism; . Tomist products based on strengths brought about by regional associations and transnational tomist products. To improve the quality of tourist services + To improve service quality through a number of activities: Issue nos 11-12/Februarv 2013 (Cong Bao nos 127-128/February 26, 2013) . Supporting the elaboration of a scheme on rational exploitation of tomism resources and sustainable development of a number of national tomist zones and sites. . Elaborating and implementing service quality control programs in hotel, restaurant, trnvel, tour guiding, tourist transpo1tation and other tourist se1vices; . Guiding, inspecting and supe1vising the building of standard restrooms for tourists at tourist zones and sites by localities. + To improve the quality of the tourist environment (nanirally and socially) . Coordinating with ministries and sectors in implementing communication and education campaigns to raise awareness about tourism and protection of tomism resources and improve public awareness about cultural and civilized behaviors in tomist activities; . Elaborating and implementing plans on inter-sectoral coordination, enhancing the role of localities in assuring order, sanitation, security and safety for tomists at tourist zones and sites; fo1mulating mechanisms of coordination and sharing of benefits and responsibilities among local communities and businesses in protecting resources and the environment at national tourist zones and sites; . Elaborating and implementing action plans on "sanitation-civilization-politeness" in tourist activities in localities. + To suppo1t the improvement of quality of tourism human resources . Coordinating with ministries, sectors, tourism training instin1tions and provincial­ level Culnire, Spo1ts and Tourism Depaitments nationwide in stepping up the elaboration and 33 application of toudsm professional skill c1iteda according to international standards; scheme on standardization and finalization of framework programs on training in tomism profession and framework programs on training in tourism professional skills. Guiding and supe1vising the application of approved tomism professional skill criteda and framework programs; . Organizing periodical programs to train and update info1mation and knowledge for tourism workers, attaching importance to programs on training on-site tour guides and tour guides in the Paity's and State's lines and policies on tourism so as to improve the quality of tour guiding se1vices; . Organizing a number of programs on training and re-training in tour organization and se1vice skills for tourist businesses and local communities for them to develop tomist products in a sustainable manner; . Organizing periodical skill and expertise contests in the tourism sector, focusing on hotel, restaurant, travel and tour guiding business so as to improve professional qualifications and promote the development of tourism human resources; . Organizing examinations for grant of tour guide and on-site tour guide cards. To support tourist product distribution channels and implement tourism stimulation programs so as to attract tourists. + To support the system of distribution channels for Vietnam's tourist products . Elaborating a scheme on coordination a m o n g n a t i o n a l a n d l o c a l t o u r i s m administration agencies, tourist zone, route and site management units and tourist businesses to 34 advertise tomist products in target markets; . Organizing activities in honor of travel agencies sending tourists from target markets to Vietnam and businesses receiving international to mists from such markets coming to Vietnam; . Supporting the marketing of tourist products in target markets through a distribution system comprising domestic and overseas travel agencies. + To implement a number of tourism stimulation programs . Organizing and launching a number of sales promotion, se1vice discount and tourism stimulation programs with the participation of localities and se1vice providers operating in and outside the tomism sector so as to ftuther attract inbound international tourists and promote domestic tourism in off-peak seasons or time when tourism is adversely affected by objective conditions; . Coordinating with the Minist1y oflndustiy and Trade in implementing pe1iodical programs on sales promotion in combination with tomism promotion in order to attract tourists and increase their spendings; . Coordinating with ministlies, sectors and localities in sn1dying and proposing the P1ime Minister to apply a number of special, specific policies for tourists from certain markets or market segments or groups of tourists booking tours via Vietnam's international travel agencies. b/ Developing Vietnam's tourism brands To build tourism brands + To build a brand identification system for Vietnam's tourism lssut> nos 11-12/Ft>bruarv 2013 (Cong Bao nos 127-128/Febroary 26, 2013) . Sn1dying and building a brand identification system covering national, regional and local tomism brands, brands of tourist products and brands of tourist businesses; . Conducting surveys, researches and seminars to collect opinions of consultants and travel agencies and specific market research results to se1ve the building of Vietnam's tomism brands. . Studying, formulating and proposing policies and mechanisms to protect, share benefits brought about by, and develop, tourism brands after they are recognized . + To build and develop a system of national tomism brands . Supporting regions, localities and businesses in building and developing their tomism brands; . Organizing contests for selection and conferment of titles in the tourism sector such as selection and confennent of the title of typical entrepreneur in the tourism sector, selection and conf e1ment of awards of top ti·avel businesses, hotels, t1·anspo11 se1vice providers, tourist zones, tourist sites, rest stops and tomist shopping centers, etc., so as to improve the quality of services and affinn Vietnam's tomism brands; to organize culina1y contests and other competitions in the tomism sector. To conduct brand positioning and communication activities for Vietnam's tomism + To improve the quality of tomism brand communication activities. . Studying and applying information technology in the building and adve11ising of Vietnam's tourism brands; Issue nos 11-12/Februarv 2013 (Cong Bao nos 127-128/February 26, 2013) . Building a databank in service of brand communication activities for Vietnam's tourism; . Formulating a mechanism for hiring professional consultants, event organizers and advertising companies to conduct some overseas promotion campaigns for Vietnam's tourism brands. + To organize big tourism programs and events at home as brand communication activities for Vietnam's tourism . Organizing public relation activities and brand communication programs for Vietnam's tourism in the mass media, tourist centers and areas with a large number of tourists such as airpo1ts, po1ts, stations, and along highways or roads leading to tourist zones; . Organizing online conversations and talk shows in the mass media about development of tourism brands; . Coordinating in organizing international large-scale cultural-tourism, sports-tourism programs and events in Vietnam to promote Vietnam's tourism brands , at taching impo1tance to brand communication activities in combination with the themes of National Tourism Years; + To organize overseas communication events to promote tomism brands and the image of Vietnam as a destination . Coordinating with overseas Vietnamese representative agencies in organizing campaigns to adve1tise brands and images of Vietnam as a tomism destination and programs and events to introduce and promote brands and products of Vietnam tourism; organizing "Vietnam week", "Vietnam day" or cultural-tomism festivals in 35 target markets; or organizing meetings with overseas Vietnamese associations in foreign countries in order to encourage and attract overseas Vietnamese to return to their native country for visiting, introduce Vietnam to their foreign friends and get them interested in visiting Vietnam; implementing adve1tising campaigns for Vietnam's tourism brands through the systems of Vietnam restaurants overseas; . Producing symbolic publications and articles serving brand communication activities for Vietnam's tourism in key tomist markets; . Inviting foreign film makers to the countiy to make films on Vietnam's toUiism for broadcasting in the key mai·kets of Vietnam's tourism; . Inviting travel agencies sending a large number of tourists to Vietnam and large news and press agencies to visit Vietnam for brand survey and communications for Vietnam's tourism; . Inviting world famous celebrities in econolnics, politics, music, ente1tainment, spo1ts and film indust1y to visit Vietnam for brand communications for Vietnam's tourism. c/ Perfecting the system of law and policies related to tourism To review, adjust, supplement, perfect and disseminate contents of the Tourism Law, guiding documents and other tourism­ related documents in service of tourism administi·ation; To create legal grounds for administi·atively sanctioning managers of tourist zones and sites which violate regulations on assurance of tourist enviromnental sanitation, security and safety for tourists; 36 To sn1dy, fo1mulate and propose mechanisms and policies for tomism development: policies to attract investment in key tourist areas and development of new types of tourism; investment in the upgrading of tomist service providing establishments; promotion of investment in new technologies in the fields of travel business management, transpo11ation, hotel and tomism promotion; to additionally study and propose specific mechanisms for regions, areas and cities so as to create resources and effectively conduct planning activities. To conduct other activities in order to build managelial capacity for the tourism sector + To build and effectively use the tourism sector's database in service of management work; + To formulate and apply a system of professional standards and regulations on tourist service quality control according to international standards; + To fonnulate and apply processes and mechanisms for inspection and supervision of tourist service quality through a system of accredited professional standards and regulations; + To consolidate the system of tourism statistics and apply the system of satellite accounts according to regulations of the United Nations World Tomism Organizations (UNWTO) in tourism statistics in service of management and policy-making work; + To study and apply new technologies in tourism administration and development. To build and upgrade software for state management agencies in charge of tourism. To review and implement inter-sectoral, lssut> nos 11-12/Ft>bruarv 2013 (Cong Bao nos 127-128/Febroary 26, 2013) inter-regional and transnational coordination activities to facilitate tourism development. d/ Consolidating the organizational system and improving the capacity of tomism administration officials To consolidate the system of tourism administration organizations + To perfect the organizational apparatus and improve the capacity of central tourism administration agencies. To consolidate the apparatuses of agencies in charge of examination, inspection and supervision of tourism quality and form organizations specialized in supe1vising and expe1tizing the quality of tomist se1vices; + To increase the capacity of research, press and info1mation, and tourism agencies at the central level; + To support and increase tourism administration capacity for provincial-level Culture, Sports and Tourism Departments; to perfect the apparatuses of local agencies in charge of tourism resource and destination management and tourism promotion; + To review and consolidate the organization and mechanisms of coordination among ministries, sectors and localities in removing difficulties and creating conditions for tomism development. To conduct activities to increase the capacity of central and local tourism administration officials through programs on professional knowledge, managerial operation, skill and foreign-language training; to provide re­ training in tourism administration, tourism promotion, cultural behaviors and updated knowledge for officials oflocal administrations Issue nos 11-12/Februarv 2013 (Cong Bao nos 127-128/February 26, 2013) ( of provincial, dist1ict and communal levels), officers perfo1ming tourism-related jobs in public security, customs and border guaJds, cultural and historical relic management boards and tomist zone and site management boards. 4. Solutions for implementing the Program To enhance the leadership and direction of PaJty committees and administrations at all levels and state management agencies in chaJge of tourism in tomism development activities. To intensify public info1mation to raise awareness about tourism, and mobilize the participation of people, local communities and social organizations in tomism development. To set up a system for smveillance of tomism resource exploitation so as to assure sustainable tourism development. To review and finalize master plans on the use of tourism resources and master plans on tourism development. To elaborate plans on training and raising state management capacity for tourism administration officials from the central to local levels and officials of other tourism­ related sectors such as customs, secmity and tax, and tourism administration officials in deep-lying and remote aJeas with developed tourism resources. To review, elaborate and implement cooperation programs between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and other 1ninistJies and sectors so as to facilitate tourism development. To formulate a mechanism for close association with the private sector and public­ private partnership models; to encourage the participation of socio-political and socio­ professional organizations, non-governmental 37 organizations and the community in tomism development. To fo1mulate mechanisms to mobilize the pa1ticipation of all econolnic sectors in building tomism infrastrncture, developing a system of tourist products and improving the quality of tourist se1vices. To increase scientific researches serving forecast, planning and policy-making work in service of tourism development management and direction. To get the best of international cooperation in technical assistance, funds and experiences in the elaboration and implementation of professional training and re-training programs for tourism development. 5. Funds for the Program implementation Funds for the Program implementation are raised from the central budget, local budgets, contributions of enterprises and other lawful sources, of which state budget funds are allocated within state budget estimates of ministries, central agencies and localities according to the current state management decentralization; When elaborating its annual state budget plans, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall estimate funds for the Program implementation for sending to the Minist1y of Finance for subsequent submission to competent authorities for consideration and decision according to the Law on the State Budget; From 2013 on, the Ministry of Finance is assigned to allocate state budget funds for the Program implementation as estimated by the Ministry of Culture, Spo1ts and Tourism. 38 Article 2. Organization of the Program implementation 1. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall: Act as the agency in charge of implementing the national action program on tourism for the 2013-2020 period; Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with others in, formulating mechanisms and policies to manage, achninister and guide the Program implementation and submit them to the Prime Minister for promulgation or promulgate them according to its competence; Coordinate with the Minist1y of Finance in elaborating the Regulation on management and use of funds for the Program implementation; to fo1mulate a financial mechanism to raise non-state budget funds for the Program implementation; Based on the Program and current regulations, direct the formulation of, and approve according to its competence, specific projects (covering projects' objectives, requirements, tasks, resource demands, implementation schedules and assignment of responsibility), and elaborate, approve and implement annual plans on the Program implementation; Annually estimate funds for the Program implementation according to the Law on the State Budget with regard to central budget­ funded activities and send such estimates to the Ministry of Finance for submission to competent authorities for consideration and decision; coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in estimating funds for perfo1mance lssut> nos 11-12/Ft>bruarv 2013 (Cong Bao nos 127-128/Febroary 26, 2013) of tasks covered by local budgets and non-state budget sources; Inspect, supervise and preliminadly review the Program implementation on a regulai· basis; Annually summarize and repo1t on the implementation results of the Program to the Prime Minister and propose the settlement of problems falling beyond its competence; In the fourth qua1ter of 2015, organize preliminary review and assessment of the Program implementation and repo1t results to the Prime Minister; conduct final review of the Program implementation in the fomth qua1ter of 2020; Assign the Vietnam National Tourism Ad1ninistration to act as the unit in charge of implementing activities under the Program, proactively coordinate with related units in conducting a number of activities to increase the effectiveness of the Program; to conduct annual reviews, and propose appropriate measures to adjust the Program so as to attain set objectives. 2. The Minist1y of Finance shall: Based on implementation schedules of projects, allocate funds for the Program implementation according to the Law on the State Budget. Assume the prime responsibility for elaborating the regulation on management and use of funds for the Program implementation. 3. The Minist1y of Planning and Investment shall: Coordinate with the Ministiy of Finance and the Minist1y of Culture, Spo1ts and Tourism in studying, elaborating and promulgating Issue nos 11-12/Februarv 2013 39 (Cong Bao nos 127-128/February 26, 2013) a financial mechanism for mobilizing non- agencies and chairpersons of provincial-level state budget resources for the Program People's Committees shall implement this implementation. Decision. 4. Other ministries and sectors shall: Within the ambit of their assigned management domains, coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in implementing activities to facilitate and accelerate tourism development. 5. Provincial-level People's Committees shall: On the basis of the Program, annually elaborate plans and allocate funds for the Program implementation in their localities. Fo1mulate and implement provincial-level action plans for the Program implementation and implement schemes and projects to implement the Program in their localities; review and adjust relevant local master plans and plans. Direct provincial-level Culture, Spo11s and Tourism Departments and related departments and sectors in elaborating programs on coordination with central state management agencies in charge of tomism in implementing the national action program on tourism. Conduct public information about the Program in their localities; Take the initiative in mobilizing resources and integrate the Program with tourism-related projects in their localities so as to achieve objectives set in the Program. Article 3. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing. Article 4. Ministers, heads of ministerial­ level agencies, heads of government-attached For the Prime Minister Deputy P1ime Minister NGUYEN THIEN NHAN