HCMC’s tourism sector has always remained an important and leading role in the city’s socio-economic development and achieved positive results in recent years. The amount of tourists coming to HCMC increased sharply in the past time contributing enhancement of the position of HCMC tourism in Southeast Asia region and the world. Specifically, a total of 19.3 million international tourists and 4.6 million domestic visitors came to HCMC in 2015, accounting for 57% of total international tourists coming to Vietnam. HCMC’s tourism sector earned VND 94,600 billion (US$ 4, 2 billion), equal to 9.88% of HCMC’s GDP and 30.2% of total tourism revenue of Vietnam.

Clearly, HCMC’s tourism sector has been playing an increasingly important role in economic restructuring of the city, affirming its position as a tourism center of the whole country in terms of development scale, human resource, transshipment hub of tourists and great contributions to the common development of the whole country, etc.

In addition, the city has strengthened connectivity with localities nationwide in development of tourism infrastructure and products, linking with international travel companies to promote tourism and to exploit foreign tourism markets. The city has attracted many foreign firms to develop high-class tourism accommodation facilities met international standards. Tourism companies have step by step build their brand names as well as created value chain of the tourism sector.

However, HCMC’s tourism sector is still facing difficulties and limitations such as polluted air and water environment, traffic safety, food hygiene and safety, robbery, hawkers, counterfeit taxis, vendors stalking tourists, etc., lacking of concentrated investment. Besides, tourism companies have not strengthened application of science and technology, lacking of standardized human resource training courses.

HCM CITYWEB