The number of foreign tourists visiting Vietnam increased by 9.5 percent
month-on-month in August 2014, according to figures from the General
Statistics Office (GSO).
According to the GSO, an estimated
619,000 foreign tourists visited Vietnam this month, bringing the total
number of tourists in the first eight months of the year to 5.47
million, a 12.2 percent year-on-year increase.
The figures showed
that the number of foreign tourists seeking leisure and entertainment
increased by 10.5 percent year-on-year to 3.3 million while those on
business increased by 12.9 percent to 919,800, those visiting relatives
increased by 15.8 percent to 941,500, and those arriving here for other
purposes leaped by 18.2 percent to 307,300.
The number of tourist
arrivals from most foreign countries and territories also increased
during the first eight months of the year. Tourists from Hong Kong made
up the majority at 97.5 percent, followed by Germany at 83.3 percent,
Russia at 27.1 percent and Spain at 24.3 percent. Visitors from Laos
made up 21.5 percent of the total while Cambodia made up 20.1 percent
and the United Kingdom, 17.2 percent.
The total number of
domestic tourists in the first eight months is also expected to have a
year-on-year surge of 6.9 percent to 30.1 million.
The tourism
industry gained a year-on-year increase of 20.4 percent in revenue to
159.8 trillion VND (7.5 billion USD). The country expects to serve an
estimated 8 million to 8.2 million foreign tourists and 37.5 million
domestic tourists this year and earn 240 trillion VND (113 billion USD)
in the process.
According to the Vietnam National Administration
of Tourism, the country is applying a 30-day visa exemption for citizens
from nine of the 10 ASEAN member States.
Tourists from seven
other nations have likewise been granted a 15-day visa exemption. Asian
nations covered by this exemption are Japan and the Republic of Korea,
while Russia joins the European nations of Norway, Finland, Denmark and
Sweden in enjoying the same privilege.
An estimated 42 percent of
foreign tourists to Vietnam so far came from countries enjoying the
visa exemptions, the administration said, and added that the exemptions
were expected to further increase the number of foreign visitors in the
coming months.
In line with this, the Ministries of
Transportation and of Culture, Sport and Tourism are proposing visa
exemptions for visitors from France, Germany, Italy and Spain, as well
as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and India.
Tourists
from Western European countries often go on spending sprees and
extended stays in Vietnam. Australia and New Zealand are also seen as
potential markets for tourism companies during the lean season.
Canada
is in the list of the top 15 leading international tourist markets to
Vietnam, and India is expected to become a potential market with its
large population.-VNA