Hanoi (VNA) - Hanoi’s tourism sectorneeds to quickly restructure or risk falling behind other localities and strugglingto post growth, given the sector’s recovery will be a decisive factor in the capital’soverall growth this year, according to Politburo member and Secretary of themunicipal Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue.

Tourism revenue, meanwhile, increased by anannual average of 17.6 percent.

Due to COVID-19, the city welcomed just 1.11million foreign arrivals and 7.54 million domestic visitors last year, respective falls of84.2 percent and 65.6 percent against 2019. Revenue plummeted 73percent.

Hue told a meeting on January 19 that tourismcontributed 12.54 percent of Hanoi’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) in2019 but only 3.4 percent last year.

The local tourism sector incurred greater lossesthan the national average, he noted.

Calling for prompt action to restructure the sectorin the face of COVID-19, the secretary asked it to determine restructuringorientations for 2021-2025 and build a recovery plan for this year that focuseson attracting visitors nationwide, including people in the city itself.

Once Hanoi is re-opened to internationaltourists, it will have improved tourism products, human resources,infrastructure, and professionalism, he said.

In particular, the official requested that the sectorprioritise developing large-scale MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences,exhibitions) tourism, organise more cultural tourism events such as flower, food and“ao dai” festivals, and promote craft tourism.

He also pointed out the necessity of boostingthe application of IT in the sector.

The capital targets attracting 13.16-19.04million visitors this year, including 10.96-15.34 million domestictourists (or 50-70 percent of the 2019 figure) and 2.2-3.7 millionforeigners./.