Current Situation of Ninh Binh Tourism Industry Before the Years of Provincial Re-Establishment (1976

industrialization and modernization of the country, making the people rich, the country strong, and the society fair and civilized. The Directive has outlined the direction for tourism development, and required Party committees at all levels to strengthen the Party's leadership over tourism, promote the work of building and developing the Party and people's organizations in the tourism industry.

In addition, along with the formation of the state management agency for tourism at the central level, on April 17, 1993, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 171/TTG on the establishment of Departments of Tourism in a number of localities with great tourism potential. This created favorable conditions for provinces to have specialized agencies to manage and research tourism, thereby having appropriate and timely policies for the tourism industry of each locality. In 1995, our State officially approved the "Master plan for Vietnam tourism development in the period 1995 - 2010". The plan was born to create conditions for provinces with strengths in tourism to strengthen the direction of local Party Committees, plan tourism development, attract investment, etc.

That is why in the 8th National Congress (June 1996), our Party continued to propose directions for tourism development: "Rapidly develop tourism, aviation, maritime, postal - telecommunications, trade and transportation services... Gradually turn our country into a regional tourism, trade and service center" [12, p.89].

It is important and necessary that the Party has directed the strengthening of leadership in tourism work and directed state agencies to strengthen management, promulgate amendments and supplements to policies and laws related to tourism, making tourism develop strongly and sustainably in the new period. At the 8th Congress, the Party set out the main directions, tasks and objectives of the 5-year tourism economic development plan 1996 - 2000 as: "Implementing the master plan for tourism development commensurate with the country's great tourism potential in the direction of cultural, ecological and environmental tourism. Building attractive programs and tourist destinations in terms of culture, historical relics and scenic spots. Mobilizing resources to participate in tourism business, prioritizing the construction of infrastructure

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"In concentrated tourist areas and major centers, improve cultural level and service quality to suit different types of tourism" [59, p.388].

To promote tourism development, the Party advocates encouraging domestic and foreign investors to invest in tourism sectors and industries. The State equitizes a number of existing hotels to mobilize capital sources to invest in upgrading them to meet the increasing demands of tourists. To meet the needs of tourism development in the market mechanism, to raise social awareness of tourism, in February 1999 the "Tourism Ordinance" was passed and issued by the National Assembly Standing Committee. The promulgation of the Tourism Ordinance marks an important change in the legal basis for tourism activities in our country; both determining the important position of the tourism industry in the national economy and demonstrating the determination and will of the Party and State in promoting the tourism industry to develop commensurate with its position in the new period. That is a good condition and can be considered a key resource for developing the tourism economy.

For foreign investors, we encourage and create favorable conditions for joint ventures to build tourist areas and large hotels with high quality and international standards to serve high-income customers. With the open-door policy of the Party and the State, the tourism industry has attracted a lot of foreign direct investment. By the end of 2000, there were 194 foreign direct investment projects in the tourism industry licensed, with a total registered capital of 5.78 billion USD [17, p.342].

Based on Resolution 45/CP of the Government, the General Department of Tourism has issued legal documents mainly on tourism management such as: Regulations on management of accommodation service establishments, Regulations on travel management, Regulations on tour guides, Regulations on tourism inspection activities, granting of operating licenses, etc.

The State has also encouraged and allowed many public and private universities, colleges, and vocational high schools to open training majors related to tourism. This has contributed greatly to improving human resources for our country's tourism industry.

The General Department of Tourism has also coordinated with the Department of Tourism, the Department of Trade and Tourism and local authorities to step up propaganda and inspection to limit negative aspects in tourism business such as prostitution, drugs, environmental pollution, etc., gradually bringing tourism activities into order and discipline, thereby contributing to maintaining and improving the quality and reputation of Vietnamese tourism, attracting more and more international visitors to Vietnam.

If in 1990 the whole country only welcomed more than 200 thousand international visitors, in 2007 it welcomed more than 4 million, serving more than 20 million domestic tourists, rising to the top 5 countries with developed tourism economy in the ASEAN region [70]. Tourism development has contributed significantly to the process of economic restructuring, poverty reduction, environmental resource protection, and has been highly appreciated by the Party and the State. In Directive 46/CT-TW of the Secretariat of the 7th Party Central Committee in October 1994, it was affirmed: "Tourism development is an important strategic direction in the socio-economic development policy to contribute to the industrialization and modernization of the country".

The 9th National Congress (April 2001) of our Party continued to set out timely guidelines and policies to further promote the development of the socio-economy in general and the tourism economy in particular. Our Party continued to emphasize and determined to make tourism "truly become a spearhead economic sector". In addition, we must not only stop at quantity but also advocate further improving the quality, scale and efficiency of exploiting tourism resources in which we have advantages such as: natural resources, ecology, cultural traditions, history, how to soon reach the tourism level on par with countries in the region. The Congress also set out the development orientation for the tourism industry in the period of 2001 - 2005 as: "building and upgrading infrastructure, forming key tourist areas, promoting cooperation and association with other countries" [13, p.178].

In the policy of tourism development, our Party always emphasizes promoting internal resources, besides strengthening the connection with other countries in tourism activities to take advantage of foreign resources. In recent times, the tourism industry has expanded international integration and cooperation activities in all bilateral and multilateral fields.

Through tourism, the world understands more clearly the viewpoints and aspirations of the Party, State and people of Vietnam, who want to be friends with all countries in the world community, striving for peace, independence and development. To implement that policy, the 9th Congress also proposed a number of solutions to promote tourism development such as: It is necessary to thoroughly grasp and continue to propagate the Party and State's policy on tourism development, clearly recognize the role, position and multi-faceted effects of tourism, creating conditions for tourism development in the process of industrialization and modernization of the country. Have a strategy to diversify tourism products, while improving the quality of tourism services. Strengthen the construction of high-class entertainment and resort facilities, while investing in restoring traditional occupations, culture, folk arts, creating unique tourism products for each tourist region and the whole country.

During the leadership process, our Party has gradually improved policies, built inter-sectoral and inter-local coordination mechanisms and ensured the centralized and unified direction of the State. Focusing on the policy of socializing investment in tourism development, the State invests and creates conditions to increase the mobilization and effective use of capital sources from other economic sectors. On the other hand, simplifying procedures for entry and exit, customs, residence, and travel, facilitating sightseeing activities, building a safe, civilized and polite tourism environment. There are policies to encourage local communities to participate in tourism activities. We must focus on improving the competitiveness of Vietnam's tourism industry, focusing on improving the quality and diversifying tourism products, reducing service prices, creating attractiveness and attracting international tourists to make Vietnam's tourism industry develop rapidly, soon catch up with the tourism industry of developed countries in the region and the world, making tourism an important economic sector.

To promote tourism and proactively integrate into the international economy, the General Department of Tourism has actively coordinated with units under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnam Airlines, Vietnamese embassies abroad, press agencies, radio and television, to organize many events to promote tourism.

promote domestic and foreign tourism. Units and localities have actively participated in many international seminars, conferences and forums to promote and attract tourists and investment capital. Tens of millions of publications, guidebooks, video tapes and CD-ROMs have been published to introduce the country, people and tourism of Vietnam. It can be said that tourism promotion and propaganda must be carried out extensively at home and abroad in many forms, regularly, focusing on key markets to expand the market. The establishment of Vietnam Tourism Promotion Offices in potential tourism markets is very necessary. Focus on training and improving the quality of human resources in tourism. Diversify training forms, combine domestic and foreign training, ensure quality standards, gradually build a team of highly professional workers and managers in the tourism sector.

In addition, the Party's guidelines direct the Party localities to have specific orientations with the aim of making regions and areas capable of exploiting their strengths to the maximum according to the open economic mechanism associated with the needs of domestic and foreign markets, making tourism a spearhead economic sector, making our country a regional tourism center. Therefore, at the 10th National Congress (April 2006), the Party advocated promoting the strengths of each region on the basis of promoting the advantages of each region and "Continuing to expand and improve the quality of communication services, such as transportation, trade, tourism, banking, post and telecommunications" [14, p.201]. In the direction section, the Congress also pointed out that it is necessary to "Encourage investment in development and improve the quality and efficiency of tourism activities, diversify products and types of tourism" [14, p.202].

Under the leadership of the Party and the role of State management, the institutionalization of policies, promulgation and implementation of legal documents related to tourism have been carried out promptly and synchronously. Creating a legal framework for State agencies and relevant departments to organize and implement tourism economic development . Tourism activities have continuously developed over many years such as:

Regarding tourists: The number of visitors in 1994 reached one million, one year ahead of schedule and six years ahead of the World Tourism Organization's forecast. From 1990 to 2007, the number of tourists always maintained a double-digit growth rate. International tourists increased 17 times from 250,000 (in 1990) to approximately 4.253 million (in 2008). Domestic tourists are estimated to have increased 20 times, from one million in 1990 to approximately 20.5 million in 2008.

Regarding tourism income: Tourism brings increasingly large income to society. Tourism activities attract the participation of economic sectors and all classes of people, bringing income not only to those directly involved in tourism business but also indirectly to related industries, on-site export and income generation for local communities. Rapid growth rate in income: in 1990, tourism income only reached 1,350 billion VND, but by 2008, that figure reached 64,000 billion VND [70].

In short, with the renovation policy from the 6th National Party Congress (1986) to the present, it can be seen that tourism development is an important strategic direction in the socio-economic development policy of the Party and State to contribute to the industrialization and modernization of the country, making the people rich, the country strong, and the society fair and civilized. Tourism activities are simultaneously effective in many aspects: economy, politics, culture, security, social order and safety, protecting the ecological environment, preserving and promoting traditions, national cultural identity and human dignity of the Vietnamese people, selectively absorbing the quintessence of world culture, contributing to the implementation of the foreign policy of the Party and State. To implement the Party's viewpoint, a series of policies of the Party and the State have been issued with the goal of making tourism a spearhead economic sector, gradually completing the tourism planning nationwide, promoting and attracting domestic and foreign capital to invest in technical facilities, diversifying tourism products associated with the uniqueness of each locality, training human resources to meet the requirements in both quantity and quality, so that Vietnam's tourism develops commensurate with its existing potential. All the policies and guidelines of the Party and the State on the tourism industry are the basis for the Ninh Binh Provincial Party Committee to thoroughly grasp and apply to the actual situation of the locality.

The method aims to develop Ninh Binh tourism commensurate with the locality's inherent potential.

2.2. Current status of Ninh Binh tourism industry before the years of re-establishment of the province (1976 - 1992)

To meet the practical development needs, on January 7, 1992, the Standing Committee of the Ha Nam Ninh Provincial Party Committee issued decisions on the establishment of the Steering Committee for the separation of the province, establishing sub-committees: Organization and personnel, division of assets, demarcation of boundaries... Ninh Binh province was re-established on the basis of maintaining the status quo of geographical location and administrative boundaries of Ninh Binh province at the time of the merger to establish Ha Nam Ninh province (February 1976), with a natural area of 1,386 km2 , including 7 administrative units at the district and town levels (5 districts and 2 towns), with a total population of 823,496 people [55, p.116].

With many famous landscapes and very favorable conditions for tourism development. However, before 1992, tourism activities in Ninh Binh (old Ha Nam Ninh) were not developed, tourism business was almost not focused on. The types of tourism were poor, activities were passive and spontaneous, so the efficiency was still too low. Implementing the Party's innovation policy, Ha Nam Ninh Provincial Party Committee focused on leading and directing the proactive implementation of the innovation process, taking economic innovation as the focus. In which, all resources of economic sectors were concentrated to implement three economic programs: food, foodstuff; consumer goods and export goods. Therefore, the Provincial Party Committee did not pay attention to exploiting the tourism potential of the province, the efficiency of tourism economic activities was low. It can be said that the current status of exploiting tourism resources in Ha Nam Ninh has not been exploited commensurate with the potential. The organization of resource exploitation and management is still unscientific, overlapping, without a basic, long-term plan and has not linked exploitation with protection and restoration. On the other hand, the socialization of tourism in the population, management organization, human resources, capital sources, etc. also contributes to limiting the exploitation of tourism resources in Ha Nam Ninh, limiting the effectiveness of many aspects of tourism here [21, p.208].

In Ha Nam Ninh region, Ninh Binh is known for many famous natural tourism resources. Besides, it is also the land of the kings who built the

The land also preserves many unique historical and cultural relics, which are valuable humanistic tourism resources. With many famous scenic spots and very favorable conditions for tourism development. However, before 1992, Ninh Binh's tourism activities were mainly sightseeing and scenic spots. The province's accommodation services were still rudimentary and meager to attract tourists, especially international tourists. The entire Ninh Binh province has only one Hoa Lu hotel operated by Ha Nam Ninh Tourism Company with 33 rooms [68, p.47]. In addition, food and beverage services have not yet exploited the local characteristics for tourists. Shopping services are also rarely performed because the products on sale are not unique or impressive. Exceptions include embroidery and lace products from Van Lam (Ninh Hai, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh) which are purchased on the spot by visitors when visiting Tam Coc - Bich Dong and products made from sedge in Phat Diem. Promotional activities are almost not invested in and directed, and management is still loose. The professional capacity of the staff is still limited, not meeting the needs of serving customers and not being able to receive and promote their services.

There are many reasons why tourism activities in Ninh Binh (former Ha Nam Ninh) have not yet developed. That is, the economy at that time still had many difficulties, the local socio-economic activities, including tourism, were all subsidized from the budget. Besides, there was the perception of the authorities and local governments on tourism activities, on exploiting tourism resources in their localities to be able to invest in this field. Entering 1986, the Party Committee and people of Ha Nam Ninh province in general, and Ninh Binh region in particular, implemented the renovation policy, shifting the economy to operate according to the market mechanism under the management of the State. This was a fierce and complicated process with the struggle between the new and the old, between the dynamic and creative and the conservative and stagnant, between the positive and the negative. Looking at the general overview of the early stages of the renovation process in Vietnam in general and in Ha Nam Ninh province in particular, the results of economic development were not great, the growth rate in this period was not as high as expected, even the years 1987 - 1989 were the period of highest inflation in the Vietnamese economy in general and in Ha Nam Ninh province in particular.

Current Situation of Ninh Binh Tourism Industry Before the Years of Provincial Re-Establishment (1976 - 1992)

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