TheVietnam Tourism Association (VTA) will launch a programme to rank Vietnamesetour guides, with financial assistance from the European Union (EU), theassociation announced on October 4.

Tourists in the Mekong Delta of Tien Giang - Photo: VNA

This is the first timeVietnam has implemented such programme, which aims to encourage tour guides toimprove their performance to better meet travelers’ demand.

From early October to theend of this year, VTA’s Association of Vietnamese Tour Guides will conductranking activities in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Quang Ninh as well as otherlocalities such as Khanh Hoa and Lao Cai.

The ranking will be based onthree major criteria of capacity, knowledge and skills, and aims to createfavourable conditions for travel firms to sign contracts and pay adequate wagesto tour guides.

It is expected to helpenhance the quality of Vietnamese tourism, especially tour guides who will beclassified into three levels from three-star to five-star.

Vu The Binh, VTA VicePresident, said that initially, the programme will be applied for members ofthe Association of Vietnamese Tour Guides across the nation. After thecompletion of criteria and regulations, it will be expanded to all tour guidesin the countries who wish to join the programme, he added.

So far, Vietnam has 23,055certified tour guides, including 14,428 international, 8,412 domestic and 215working at certain sites.

However, only 5 percent ofthe total are working under contracts with travel firms and paid with salaryand social insurance premium by the companies, while the rest have not joinedsocial insurance. 

On the occasion, Binh alsorevealed that the Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2019 will be themed“Green Tourism” with an aim to engage in the implement the sustainabledevelopment goals for 2030.

Source:VNA