International arrivals in Vietnam were estimated at over 2.5 million in the first six months of the year, representing an increase of 32 percent over the same period last year.
The General Statistics Office reported surges in all traditional markets, with China making the strongest growth at 92.5 percent, followed by Cambodia, almost 89 percent, the Republic of Korea and Thailand, both over 28 percent, and Australia, close to 26 percent.
Domestic vacation makers also showed a positive trend, numbering almost 14.8 million in the first half of the year or more than 10 percent over the corresponding period last year.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) reported that intensifying promotion of Vietnam tourist potential on international mass media has considerably contributed to the growth. The tourist governance agency also launched a number of promotion campaigns abroad through cultural and art festivals in Japan, the RoK and China along with cultural weeks in Cuba and Mexico to attract foreigners’ interest.
Similar festivities in the domestic market have also played a role in the growth of the hospitality industry as a series of folk art and festivals were held nationwide. Among them were a cultural, sports and tourist festival of ethnic minorities in the northern mountainous province of Lang Son, an event called Ancient Town Night in UNESCO-recognised Hoi An, an international fireworks festival in the central city of Da Nang and the Hue Festival-2010 in the former imperial city of the same name.
The VNAT is working out special programmes to tap major occasions in the rest of the year, especially celebrations of the Thang Long-Hanoi millennium anniversary in October. Its scheme is to culminate in the biggest sale-off campaign in August and September, offering discounts of between 10 and 40 percent for tourists.
The agency adds that it is to submit to the Government in July a project on visa exemption for foreign tourists during the sale-off period./.
The General Statistics Office reported surges in all traditional markets, with China making the strongest growth at 92.5 percent, followed by Cambodia, almost 89 percent, the Republic of Korea and Thailand, both over 28 percent, and Australia, close to 26 percent.
Domestic vacation makers also showed a positive trend, numbering almost 14.8 million in the first half of the year or more than 10 percent over the corresponding period last year.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) reported that intensifying promotion of Vietnam tourist potential on international mass media has considerably contributed to the growth. The tourist governance agency also launched a number of promotion campaigns abroad through cultural and art festivals in Japan, the RoK and China along with cultural weeks in Cuba and Mexico to attract foreigners’ interest.
Similar festivities in the domestic market have also played a role in the growth of the hospitality industry as a series of folk art and festivals were held nationwide. Among them were a cultural, sports and tourist festival of ethnic minorities in the northern mountainous province of Lang Son, an event called Ancient Town Night in UNESCO-recognised Hoi An, an international fireworks festival in the central city of Da Nang and the Hue Festival-2010 in the former imperial city of the same name.
The VNAT is working out special programmes to tap major occasions in the rest of the year, especially celebrations of the Thang Long-Hanoi millennium anniversary in October. Its scheme is to culminate in the biggest sale-off campaign in August and September, offering discounts of between 10 and 40 percent for tourists.
The agency adds that it is to submit to the Government in July a project on visa exemption for foreign tourists during the sale-off period./.
