On the morning of September 3rd, the Politburo and the Secretariat organized a national conference to study, study, thoroughly grasp and implement a number of Resolutions and Directives of the Politburo.
At the Conference, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra presented the Special Topic "Key and core contents of Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW, dated August 22, 2026 of the Politburo on developing Vietnamese tourism into a key economic sector in the new era".
According to Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, nearly 10 years of implementing Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW, Vietnamese tourism has had positive and quite comprehensive changes.
In 2025, Vietnam welcomed nearly 21.2 million international visitors, serving 137 million domestic visitors. Revenue from tourism reached 1 million billion VND, an increase of 19% compared to the previous year, directly contributing nearly 8.8% to GDP and creating about 4.41 million jobs.
However, the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that tourism has not yet developed commensurate with its potential. Products are still lacking in diversity, depth and added value; investment resources have not met requirements. Bottlenecks in institutions, infrastructure, land, taxes and implementation organization have not been removed in time.
Strong shift from quantity to quality
In the context of volatile global tourism, changing tourism trends and needs, and increasing competition between destinations, Resolution 26-NQ/TW sets requirements for strong innovation in thinking, approaches and ways of doing things.
The core issue is to strongly innovate thinking, approaches, and ways of doing things, focusing on transforming the growth model and tourism management methods from quantity to quality, improving added value for the economy," Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized.
The Resolution establishes 5 major viewpoints. In which, tourism development must truly become a spearhead economic sector, a new growth engine, contributing to the achievement of the double-digit growth goal; taking culture as the core foundation, identity and quality of experience as a competitive advantage, based on science and technology, innovation and digital transformation.
Tourism is oriented to develop according to a comprehensive economic ecosystem, associated with economic, cultural, social, and environmental pillars; while strengthening national defense and security, expanding cultural diplomacy and international integration.
The Resolution also requires restructuring the tourism industry, strongly shifting the development model from quantity to quality, smart, green, and creative; innovating governance towards modernity, governance based on data, associated with spatial planning for development and preservation and promotion of cultural and heritage values.
The common goal is identified as developing high-quality, smart, green, creative tourism in Vietnam, rich in cultural identity, with high added value, regional and international competitiveness, and strong spillover effects on other industries and fields.
By 2030, tourism will directly contribute 10-12% of GDP, welcome 45-50 million international visitors, serve 160 million domestic visitors, and total revenue from tourists reach 80-90 billion USD.
The Resolution sets the goal of forming 3 tourism growth poles: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang; 10 key tourist centers, 20 national tourist areas; building 15 tourism corporations and general corporations with strong brands, strong enough to compete internationally. The tourism industry creates about 2.3 million direct jobs and 3.5 million indirect jobs.
By 2045, tourism will directly contribute 14-15% of GDP, welcoming 70 million international visitors, bringing Vietnam into the group of 30 countries with the world's leading tourism competitiveness.
8 groups of breakthrough solutions
To realize the goals, Resolution 26-NQ/TW identifies 8 groups of key tasks and solutions.
One is to innovate thinking, raise awareness and responsibility in tourism development; shift from quantitative development to depth, quality, efficiency, sustainability and high added value.
Two is to improve institutions and policies, create breakthroughs and unlock resources. In which, continue to improve visa and entry policies in a more open, convenient, flexible and competitive direction; and at the same time promote public-private partnerships, attract strategic investors and large corporations.
Three is to develop synchronous infrastructure, forming highly competitive tourism centers.
Fourth, develop markets and high-quality tourism products, improve tourism economic efficiency. The focus is on attracting high-spending tourists, staying for many days; linking tourism with cultural industries such as cinema, music, entertainment, fashion, night economy and cuisine.
Strategic products include sea resorts, health care, high-class sports, event tourism (MICE), shopping and large-scale tourism and entertainment complexes.
The year is to strongly innovate promotion, promotion, and elevate the Vietnamese tourism brand. The Resolution orients the shift from direct promotion to focused digitalization, taking big data and AI as the foundation for market access; strengthening cultural diplomacy, cinema, international media and opening new routes in key markets.
Sixth is to develop human resources, businesses and the tourism community. The Resolution requires innovation in training according to market needs and international standards, with preferential policies to attract high-quality human resources, develop strong branded Vietnamese tourism businesses and strengthen regional and cross-border links.
Seven is to promote science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and smart tourism development. Vietnam will build a smart tourism ecosystem, interconnected national database, multi-service integrated digital platform, digital maps, electronic tickets and multilingual virtual assistants; strengthen the application of IoT and AI in environmental management and monitoring.
Eight is to innovate tourism management methods, improve the quality of destinations in a green, smart, safe, and sustainable direction; capacity management, visitor traffic diversion, development of waste treatment infrastructure, application of green standards and building early warning systems, risk management, and crisis response.
According to Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, the implementation organization is of decisive significance in bringing Resolution 26-NQ/TW into practice. The Government has completed the Action Program to implement the Resolution, including 32 tasks, assigned to 7 Ministries, agencies and People's Committees of provinces and cities, according to the motto "clear people, clear tasks, clear time, clear responsibilities, clear products, clear authority".
Vietnam has enough resources, nature, cultural heritage and resources to build a regional and world-class tourism industry. What remains is the will, the determination, the action and the will of all of us," Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized.
