Dynamism drives Vietnam tourism ranking

The development capacity of Vietnam’s tourism industry, listed in the 2021 Travel & Tourism Development Index, ranked 52, experiencing the "greatest improvement" in score, up 4.7% compared to 2019.

The development capacity of Vietnam’s tourism industry, listed in the 2021 Travel & Tourism Development Index, ranked 52, experiencing the "greatest improvement" in score, up 4.7% compared to 2019.

According to a World Economic Forum report published on May 24, the index of Vietnam’s tourism industry in 2021 climbed eight more places compared to 2019.

Enabling environment, travel and tourism policy and enabling conditions, infrastructure, travel and tourism demand drivers, and travel and tourism sustainability are five primary categories that make up the index.

Price competitiveness, safety and security, ground and port infrastructure are the most valued criteria in Vietnam, respectively ranked 15, 33, 15.

Along with Vietnam, Indonesia up 12 places and Saudi Arabia up 10 are the three countries with the highest increase in tourism development capacity index.

Golden Bridge, a top tourist attraction in Danang city, central Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency.

The Asia-Pacific region is the second-highest performer in the ranking. Of its 20 constituent economies, 12 score above the index average and 13 have improved their score since 2019.

Some famous destinations in Southeast Asia did not have good results. Thailand slipped one spot to 36, Malaysia dropped nine places to 38, and the Philippines dropped two places to 75.

The report also emphasizes the critical role of digital technology in the restoration and reconstruction of sustainable tourism.

The survey, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism's tourism information center, demonstrates Vietnam's successes in pandemic control.

Covering 117 economies, the Travel & Tourism Development Index measures a set of factors and policies that enable the sustainable and resilient development of the travel and tourism industry, which in turn contributes to the development of a country.

Vietnam fully opened its market to international tourists on March 13, and abolished its Covid-19 testing requirement for people entering the country on May 15.