Vietnam welcomed more than 5.47 million foreign holidaymakers over the
Jan-August period, representing a year-on-year increase of 2.2 percent,
according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).
August alone saw approximately 618,600 international arrivals, up by 9.5 percent compared to the previous month.
The
number of tourists from almost all Vietnam’s traditional markets was up
in the first eight months of this year. Hong Kong market showed the
highest surge with 97.5 percent, followed by Germany, 83.3 percent, and
Russia, 27.1 percent.
The number of domestic
holidaymakers for the same period peaked at 30.1 million, up 6.9 percent
compared to last year’s data. The country raked in a total of close to
159.8 trillion VND (7.5 billion USD) in tourism revenue, 20.4 percent
higher than for the same period in 2013.
Many localities reported that they have seen the return of Chinese tourists.
According
to Hanoi’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the city received
over 4,000 visitors from China in July. Meanwhile, in the central city
of Da Nang, flights between China and the city have resumed after
a short suspension.
Vietravel, one of the travel agencies active
in the Chinese market said the firm had taken up promotional activities
again and relaunched its portfolio of tours on offer, adding that a
large number of Chinese tourists had booked tours to Da Nang for
September and October.
Saigontourist Travel Services Company
welcomed the Malaysian cruise liner SuperStar Virgo to the northern city
of Ha Long, with 2,600 international passengers on board, the marjority
being Chinese. The firm is expecting 65,000 customers on 25 cruises on
the SuperStar Virgo from now to October.
Deputy
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho Anh Tuan has reminded
localities with high tourism potentials and travel agencies throughout
the country to actively forge links and improve the quality of services
and products to meet the customer service requirements of international
guests, including those from China.
Since the East Sea
tensions in early May, Vietnam has seen a sharp decrease in tourists
from several Chinese-speaking markets, which has negatively impacted the
country’s tourism sector.-VNA