The tourism sector plans to increase its workforce to 1.4 million workers by 2010, including around 19,000 trained workers recruited each year, according to the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

Of the total number, receptionists, tourist guides and hotel workers will account for the largest proportion, at some 308,000.

This will create both opportunities and challenges for the sector as its current workforce has not met requirements of the market, said VNAT.

To reach the target, the industry will focus on building more training establishments and renewing training curriculums, contents and methods in the direction of combining theory with practice.

Under its development strategy until 2010, which was approved recently by the Prime Minister, the industry will also step up the research on and application of scientific and technological advances into management and business activities.

VNAT forecasted that the sector will serve some 5.5-6 million foreign tourists and 25-26 million domestic visitors in 2010.

(Source: VNA)