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BUSINESS REPORT

nomic development and the signing of new
free trade agreements (FTAs).
Difficulties remain, however, from
Covid-19. Disbursed FDI totaled $19.74
billion in 2021, down 1.2 per cent against
2020 and far below the record set in
2019. One reason is that foreign investors
faced limitations in international travel.
Despite efforts to promote investment
on digital platforms, many believe these
would only be effective if the parties
already knew each other.
MR. NGUYEN ANH DUONG,
Director of the Department for General Economic In mid-February, Vietnam lifted restric-
Issues, Central Institute for Economic Management. tions and restored international flights,
which was received with great enthusiasm
by the business community. The restoration
ietnam made its best efforts in 2021 of flights will create the conditions for for-
to attract FDI, with total newly- eign investors to come to Vietnam to seek
V registered capital rising 4.1 per cent opportunities from the country’s economic
compared to 2020. The result was partly recovery and development.
due to continuing with the “formula” it has Restoring flights is necessary, but is
had in place for many years: maintaining a not enough. Though it is now possible to
stable macroeconomic environment, dras- come to Vietnam to consider investment,
tically reforming its business environment, foreign businesses are also keenly interested
and strengthening international economic in the quality of the business and investment
integration in association with its own eco- environment. %

e are planning activities for the of Ha Long Bay] in the first half of the
tourism industry throughout year will be on providing the best possible
W the year, for submission to the conditions to welcome domestic tourists,
Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee thereby gradually preparing to welcome
for approval, and will begin implementation international visitors in the second half.
in March. The focus for Quang Ninh [home Over the last two years, Quang Ninh
has been greatly affected by the Covid-19
pandemic, with 70 per cent of workers in
the tourism industry having to quit or
change jobs. Provincial authorities have
been coming up with policies to support
tourism businesses in terms of human
resources and service quality.
Specifically, Quang Ninh will have pro-
grams to retrain service staff and at the
same time prepare new workers for travel MR. NGUYEN DUC QUYNH,
and hotel businesses. It is developing a Chairman of the Da Nang Hotels Association
plan and has assigned the Department of
Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and a
MR. PHAM NGOC THUY, number of universities in Ha Long city to t the beginning of 2022, hotels and
Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism conduct surveys on resource shortages at resorts were quite happy because
enterprises, to develop a detailed plan. % A the number of bookings increased,
though not to the levels seen in 2019, but
this was still a good sign for the tourism
e are positive about the govern- industry to begin to recover. With the gov-
ment’s decision to open, and con- ernment’s decision to reopen international
W fident in Vietnam’s abundant flights, we believe this summer will be an
resources and image in the international com- exciting season for the tourism industry.
munity. Even during the recent Lunar New We will hold many activities to help
Year (Tet) holiday, we saw a large number of hotel members prepare their resources
people traveling, with more than 6 million and facilities for the reopening, and will
domestic visitors catered to during the nine- keep them updated on market and policy
day break. This shows that people are ready to information and offer training courses at
respond, which is an advantage in recovery. MR. VU THE BINH, colleges, universities, and vocational schools
However, there is a lack of consistency Standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism in Da Nang.
in policies between localities, such as iso- Association 2022 will be a busy year for the hotel
lation measures for individuals and immi- industry, with activities to strengthen
gration policies for tourists. Tourism busi- policy is the correct step to take. We have service facilities and improve the service
nesses must prove that this open-door to be stronger and more determined. % skills of staff. %

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