The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) has called for increased activities to highlight green investment for World Tourism Day 2023, which will be celebrated on September 27.

This year's World Tourism Day, themed "Green Tourism and Investment," is an opportunity to focus on investments in tourism that prioritize environmental protection and the well-being of local communities.

In response to the day, Vietnam has underlined actions for the international community, governments, multilateral financial institutions, development partners, and private sector investors to unite around a new tourism investment strategy.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Doan Van Viet said that, like other Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam's tourism industry has experienced strong development and has proven to be an important economic sector.

"Vietnam has set a target to welcome 110 million tourists by 2023, of which eight million will come from overseas and 102 million from within the country. The country is expected to earn VND650 trillion (US$27.3 billion) in tourism revenue in 2023," Viet said.

He added that the sector will launch Vietnam's Tourism Marketing Strategy for 2030, a project to apply technology to develop smart tourism and promote green tourism as an economic growth driver, and another project to develop community-based tourism.

Many international tourists have become familiar with the walking area around Hoan Kiem Lake and its surroundings in downtown Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo: Pham Hung/ The Hanoi Times

VNAT stressed that it will coordinate with the Vietnam Tourism Association, tour operators, and localities nationwide to promote tourism in some key markets, including ASEAN, Australia, Europe, and North America.

More than 3.66 million international travelers have visited Vietnam since the beginning of this year, up 23.3 times year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam. Total tourism revenue this year is estimated at VND495 trillion ($20.42 billion), exceeding the full-year target by 23% and accounting for 66% of the pre-pandemic level in 2019.

Deputy Minister Doan Van Viet said the target of welcoming 8 million foreign visitors is perfectly reasonable based on the recovery seen in key markets.

"The tourism sector has set higher targets, expecting to welcome 8-10 million international tourists in 2023 and 14-15 million in 2024. Moreover, the Industrial Revolution 4.0 will have a massive impact on tourism, as the application of information technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation will foster creativity in the industry," he added.

"To achieve the target, the local tourism sector needs to focus on key tasks, such as launching the Vietnam Tourism Plan for 2021-30 with a vision to 2045 and adopting marketing strategies for Vietnam's tourism to 2030," Viet stressed.

Established by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), World Tourism Day aims to promote responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism. It is an opportunity for all countries, including Vietnam, to look beyond tourism statistics and recognize that there is a person behind every number.

"As the global travel and hospitality industry charts a path towards a more sustainable future, it has become imperative for the industry to support investment in green initiatives that reduce the world's carbon footprint and promote environmentally friendly operations," UNWTO stressed.

UNWTO has identified investment as one of the key priorities for the recovery of tourism and its future growth and development. On the occasion of World Tourism Day 2023, UNWTO highlights the need for more and better-targeted investment for people, the planet, and prosperity.