Sustainable Tourism and Competitiveness in Vietnam

Project completed

In order to foster sustainable and inclusive growth in the tourism sector, SECO supports Vietnam with this Project at the micro, meso and macro level to strengthen international competitiveness, skills development and preparing favourable framework conditions.

Country/region Period Budget
Vietnam
01.04.2018 - 30.04.2023
CHF  4’400’000
Background

Vietnam offers exceptional landscapes, unique natural assets, rich cultural heritage and a diversity of ethnic minorities. With such a strong base, tourism forms an important part of Vietnam’s economy, supporting more than 2.5 million direct jobs (5.2% of total workforce), and more than 65% of all service sector exports. However, the sector faces serious challenges, as the lack of skilled professional workers, poor quality of tourism products and services, and the lack of attention to economic, social, environmental and cultural sustainability.

Objectives

The overall objective of the project is to improve competitiveness of the tourism sector through promoting and implementing Sustainable Tourism (ST) as well as introducing a quality hospitality management training program leading to more tourist arrivals and thus more jobs in the private sector (tourism companies / SMEs and Business Support Organizations (BSOs)), and to higher household income.

Medium-term outcomes

Tourism companies/SMEs and BSOs in the tourism sector get familiarized and develop international competitive Sustainable Tourism products (micro level)-

Vietnamese training institutions are able to deliver basic Sustainable Tourism practices trainings to tourism companies/SMEs and BSOs and develop an executive hospitality education program towards international certification to provide quality skilled workers and managers in the sector (meso level)-

Government agencies at central and local level are capable to jointly with the private sector prepare and translate Sustainable Tourism practices into favourable framework conditions and to start to provide an enabling environment for strengthening the international competitiveness of the tourism sector (macro level).

Results

Expected results:  

Sustainable tourism models with specific destinations, products and linkage to local value chains developed and tested-

Module-based Sustainable Tourism practices training package and executive hospitality education program curriculum and training materials developed, tested, Train-the-Trainer (ToT) accomplished, training and education program delivered and institutionalized-

Policy recommendations on integration of Sustainable Tourism practices elaborated, consulted, and shared with concerned policy making agencies like e.g. Tourism Advisory Board.


Directorate/federal office responsible SECO
Credit area Development cooperation
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    4’400’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    0 Budget inclusive project partner CHF    4’900’000
Project phases Phase 2 01.04.2023 - 31.03.2027   (Current phase)

Phase 1 01.04.2018 - 30.04.2023   (Completed)