Vietnam is emerging as prime destination for Australian tourists when they choose to visit the Asia-Pacific region, instead of familiar destinations such as Indonesia, Fiji and Thailand.

According to the General Statistics Office, Vietnam welcomed over 251,000 Australian visitors in the first 11 months of 2010, representing a year-on-year increase of 31 percent.

Australia has become Vietnamese tourism’s sixth largest market. Among countries outside Asia, Australia ranks second in the number of tourist arrivals to Vietnam , after the US .

The increasing number of Australian tourists to Vietnam was also reflected by impressive figures given by leading Vietnamese hotels. Hanoi-based Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel said in the 11-month period, visitors from this market soared 48 percent compared with the same period last year. Nam Hai Resort in Quang Nam province’s Hoi An ancient town also saw a huge increase of 69 percent in the number of Australian tourists in the first eight months of 2010.

According to Metropole Hanoi Hotel General Director Kai Speth, Australian people have more chances to travel than before as their country has suffered the fewest impacts from the global economic crisis and the value of its currency is increasing.

Damien Van Eyk, Business Manager of Exotissimo Travel Company, which specialises in designing individual tours to Southeast Asia, attributed Australians’ increasing attention to Vietnam to the near distance between the two countries.

Word of mouth is also an important factor as more Australian people return home and share their experiences from trips to Vietnam with family members and friends.

To attract more tourists from Australia , many hotels and travel companies nationwide have planned to promote the image of Vietnam to this potential market. Airlines will also increase flights from Vietnam to Australia , helping stimulate tourism between the two nations./.