Future of tourism: Vietnam focuses on sustainable developments!

Future of tourism: Vietnam focuses on sustainable developments!

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh spoke at the tourism forum “Shaping the future of the tourism industry towards transformation towards sustainable development”. The event took place during the 2025 Ho Chi Minh City International Tourism Fair. Chinh stressed the need for a new development plan for Vietnam's tourism industry to achieve the goals set.

Vietnam aims to attract 25 million international visitors by the end of the year. In the first eight months of 2025, almost 15 million visitors have already been recorded, an increase of over 20% compared to the previous year. In order to further exploit this potential, the aim is to provide a diverse, high-quality, environmentally friendly and socially responsible range of tourism products and services.

Challenges for the tourism sector

Despite the positive development, Vietnam faces challenges. These include increasing energy consumption, waste problems in travel destinations and uncoordinated strategies for sustainable development. A lack of awareness about digital and ecological transformation also hinders progress. Chinh stressed that a change in mindset is necessary to prepare the industry for the next steps.

It also highlights the need to strengthen international cooperation and develop a smart tourism ecosystem. Tourism employees and companies should become ambassadors for Vietnam in order to position the country sustainably in the international market.

Digitalization as the key to innovation

Digital transformation has been identified as a strategic option for sustainable development. Digitalization initiatives play a crucial role in innovation in the tourism sector. These include, among other things, the use of augmented reality for virtual tours and special mobile applications that support tourists with their daily plans. Such digital solutions can increase operational efficiency and reduce costs, which can ultimately contribute to the growth of the entire tourism sector.

A targeted focus on digital transformation strategies is already having an impact. The Vietnamese Tourism Department targeted around 8 million foreign visitors in 2023 and set a sales target of $27.5 billion. After the challenges of previous years when the industry suffered from the pandemic, innovation is seen as necessary to achieve these goals.

More than 500 companies and almost 30,000 visitors were expected at the international tourism fair. Ho Chi Minh City remains Vietnam's largest economic and tourism center and aims to become an international megacity, ranking among the 100 most livable cities in the world. Nguyen Van Duoc, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, has emphasized the city's responsibility for the sustainable development of regional tourism.

Overall, Vietnam's current direction in the tourism sector shows that both digital and green transformation are key elements in achieving a sustainable and secure future. Interested investors could benefit from the accelerated developments in the industry.