The collaboration with technology platforms and tourism business sectors will bolster Vietnam's efforts to quickly adapt and take advantage of digital transformation effectively.

Dr Ha Van Sieu, vice-chairman of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry said this at a digital transformation roundtable discussion held here on Wednesday.

Vietnam’s tourism development strategy to 2030, approved by the Prime Minister, set an orientation to accelerate the digital transformation process in the tourism industry, toward the formation and development of a smart tourism ecosystem.

“The fact that we jointly build, cooperate and develop technology applications, to support tourists in the digital environment is also to cement the purpose of the above strategy. Therefore, the content of today’s talk has practical significance, in line with current trends,” Sieu said.

He added that the spread of the fourth industrial revolution along with the development of technology has changed tourist behaviour, from searching for information, booking services and experiences at the destination, to sharing feelings and memories of the trip. Most of it took place in the digital environment.

The change in the market with the focus on tourists has forced service providers as well as the government to have solutions to quickly adapt and take advantage of digital achievements to transform the operating model and method in the new era.

Digital transformation as well as enhancing cooperation in the digital environment is the right choice for organisations, businesses, and digital service providers to strive to maintain operations in order to adapt flexibly and develop sustainably.

Huynh Thi Mai Thy, country manager Traveloka Vietnam, said in the first half of this year, Vietnam welcomed around 413,000 foreigners and 60.8 million domestic visitors.

The total tourism revenue reached 265 trillion dong (RM48.7bil).

In addition, the volume of international searches for Vietnamese tourism has continued to surge, with one of the highest increases in the world, according to Google’s market trend tracker tool.

Vietnam has also stepped up eight places in the 2021 Tourism and Travel Development Index, according to the World Economic Forum Report which was conducted based on enabling environment, travel and tourism policy and enabling conditions, infrastructure, travel and tourism demand drivers, travel and tourism sustainability.

The country experienced the greatest score improvement, rising by 4.7% to leap from 60th to 52nd in the overall index.

“However, to return to the golden age of the tourism industry in 2019, there are still some challenges although Vietnam has orientation, strategic plans and a roadmap for tourism development which was provided for in the strategy to develop Vietnam’s tourism to 2030,” she added.

She said digital transformation and smart tourism model are no longer unfamiliar terms to Vietnamese people, as well as the benefits of digital transformation for the industry, businesses and travellers.

However, the connection and cooperation between these entities in the digital environment for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s tourism should be promoted.

She added that with the strong rebound of tourism in recent months, it is crucial for Vietnam’s tourism to take steps toward digital transformation by embracing touchless and smart tourism.

“Therefore, we keep making innovations that can create other initiatives and breakthrough programmes that will boost the digitalisation in the travel industry.”

As a technology-based company, Traveloka is cementing its commitment to support the government and partners toward digital transformation and sustainable growth in the tourism sector.