VietNamNet Bridge – Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh received a huge
number of questions focused on improving the reputation of Viet Nam's tourism
sector to keep pace with other countries in the region during the 13th National
Assembly's Q&A session yesterday morning, June 13.
Deputies asked the minister about solutions to prevent
tourists from being overcharged and swindled by local services.
Deputy Huyen Hoai Phuong from the southern province of
Tay Ninh said the tourism sector overall had contributed significantly to
socio-economic development, but some shortcomings remained.
The increasing number of tourists who fall victim to
scams in Viet Nam has negatively affected the image of the country in the eyes
of international visitors.
In addition, the lack of quality tourism products is
another reason fewer tourists are returning to the country.
Admitting that scams and overcharging were the main
reason for a decline in foreign tourists, the minister said: "Cases of
tourists being overcharged occur almost everywhere, causing tourists to form
negative impressions about Vietnamese tourism. We have asked relevant agencies
to accelerate co-operation and solve this problem.
We are also working on solutions to improve our
image."
"We will ask the Government to increase the level
of punishment for such scams," Anh said.
In response to deputy Phuong's question about the
possibility of founding a tourism police force, the minister said: "I met
with Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang to discuss this matter.
However, until a tourism police force is set up, I expect existing forces and
young volunteers who work as tour guides to protect tourists."
"We will set up CCTV and hotlines at popular
tourist sites for people to make complaints where necessary."
Anh said: "By 2015, the Vietnamese tourism sector
expects to reach a goal of 7.5 million tourists, with a turnover of US$9-10
billion."
However, he stressed that in order to reach that goal,
it would require tight co-operation of all social classes, from individuals to
businesses. Creating a professional and skillful labour force for the tourism
industry was also a key factor, he said.
Vocational training
Labour Minister Pham Thi Hai Chuyen was the third
cabinet member to participate in a live question and answer session at the
National Assembly's ongoing fifth session.
She admitted yesterday that the country's vocational
training schools were not meeting the real demand of society and businesses,
particularly affecting rural workers and those in mountainous areas.
According to Chuyen, Viet Nam's goal to become an
industrial nation by 2020 would not be met without preparing human resources.
Under the Government's vocational training project
through 2020, the country plans to train 1 million workers every year from 2010
to 2020, but only 27 per cent of the target was met in 2012.
There were more than 1,000 vocational training centres
nationwide, both state-owned and private, but many did not meet the demands of
each industry and locality, according to NA deputies. A lack of connection
between vocational schools and enterprises also contributed to the problem.
Lawmaker Tran Quoc Tuan from southern Tra Vinh
Province said that many vocational training schools were unable to recruit
enough students, even after investing in new facilities, because students found
the training was impractical.
"The Ministry is making efforts to revamp the
vocational training curriculum, teachers and facilities to make sure training
plans meet market demand," Chuyen said. "The schools should also meet
with local businesses to find out their real needs."
Chuyen said the Ministry was also working with foreign
companies to bring their human resources and infrastructure assistance to Viet
Nam.
In addition, the Ministry will provide a comprehensive
assessment of the three-year implementation of a rural training programme this
month.
Nguyen Van Tuyet from southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau
Province expressed concerns over the people who have lost their jobs due to the
economic slowdown and the need to retrain them. The minister, in response, said
she would instruct localities to reassess the number of workers who had lost
their jobs to draw up plans to retrain them according to demand from different
sectors.
The minister also touched on the issue of sending
workers from the 62 poorest districts to work overseas.
According to NA deputy Ly Kieu Van from central Quang
Tri Province, under Government Decision 71, the plan aims to send 10,000
workers abroad in 2009-10, 50,000 in 2011-15 and increase the number by 15 per
cent in 2016-20.
After four years, only 10,000 had moved abroad,
according to Van. "They have to borrow millions of dong from the bank and
some even return home early and are now without a stable income or job,"
she said.
Chuyen said it was also partially due to the workers'
low awareness of professional work ethics so the Ministry would organise
meetings with localities to deal with workers that had dropped out of the
programme.
Answering lawmaker Tran Thi Thanh Hai from HCM City's
question on raising the minimum wage, Chuyen said the delay was to help
businesses and the increase of the minimum wage in 2013 was aimed at balancing
the needs of workers, not making businesses suffer.
Watching the live session, Nguyen Hoang Anh, principal
of a vocational training college in Thu Duc District, HCM City, said the
students often preferred universities to vocational training due to the lack of
good teachers who understood the needs of businesses and were up to date with
market trends.
The labour minister is scheduled to continue her
Q&A session today and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will also take
the floor.
Source: VNS
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