Hanoi (VNA) – During the first six months of 2024, Ha Long bay, a UNESCO-recognised World Natural Heritage Site, has seen a bustling influx of foreign visitors that outnumbers domestic holiday-makers.
According to the Ha Long Bay Management Board, out of the nearly 1.5 million visitors to the bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh, there were nearly 1 million foreigners.
With the ticket revenue to June 17 nearing 448 billion VND (17.6 million USD), the money to be earned by the site is expected to exceed the target of 800 billion VND for this year.
Foreign visitors are charmed by several picturesque destinations in Ha Long bay such as Thien Cung cave, Ga Choi island, Dau Go cave, Ti Top island, Luon cave, and Ba Hang cave.
Foreign visitors were mainly from the Republic of Korea (RoK), India, and European and American countries. Notably, visitors from the RoK, India, and Malaysia have increased dramatically.
In 2023, Ha Long Bay welcomed about 2.6 million visitors, of which the number of international and domestic visitors was equal. Revenue from tourism activities reached about 800 billion VND.
As the locality has become more attractive to tourists, especially foreign, ticket sales to visit Ha Long bay is expected to return to the threshold of 1 trillion VND in 2024.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, revenue from ticket sales to visit Ha Long Bay always surpassed 1.2 trillion VND./.
