International visitors to Vietnam on the rise

Hanoi, August 27 (VNA)- 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