Hanoi, on December 30, welcomed its record-setting 3 millionth international tourist for 2015 — a man from Greece — with special gifts and an all expense paid tourist package.

This year has reaped many successes for Hanoi’s booming tourism industry capped off with TripAdvisor magazine citing it as the eighth out of the top 25 leading travel destinations in the world, said To Van Dong, director of Hanoi’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Dong made the statement at a welcoming ceremony for Papazoglou Eleni from Greece, as the three millionth tourist for the year to visit the city, attended by other city officials and representatives from the travel and tourism industry.

At the event, Dong affirmed that in recent years, Hanoi’s tourism industry has witnessed remarkable progress, which has contributed greatly to elevating the city and the nation’s image as a tourism must see destination around the globe.

Six tourism enterprises have been instrumental in making the year a success said Dong including Vietnam-Hanoi Tourism Joint stock company, Metropole Legend Sofitel Hanoi and HG Joint Stock Company, Inter Continental Hanoi, Vietranstour and De L’Opera Hotel.

In turn, Le Phuong Ly, marketing director at the Metropole Hanoi, said it has been a great honour for the Metropole to receive the first prize adding that in 2015 her company would strive even harder to improve the quality of its services.

Cam Ranh airport welcomes 2 millionth visitor

A Russian tourist has become the 2 millionth visitor arriving at the Cam Ranh International Airport in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa this year.

Chiganova Elena landed at the airport on December 30 in a flight carrying more than 280 passengers.

Cam Ranh airport was commercialized in 2003 after serving as a defence airport. It hosted domestic flights until 2010 with an annual growth of only 10%, receiving hundred of thousands arrivals per year.

The airport saw a strong growth since 2011 after it put into use a terminal with a capacity of 1.5 million visitors per year.

Apart from domestic flights, it has currently received international flights from various countries, including Russia , the Republic of Korea and a number of European countries.

In October this year, Khanh Hoa province was allowed to call for investment for the construction of the second runway at a cost of about VND1.4 trillion (US$65.8 million).

Int’l tourists to Vietnam decline sharply

Vietnam received around 7.874 million foreign visitors this year, a year-on-year increase of 4%, according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO).

However, the growth rate is much lower than that of last year (10.6%) due to tension on the East Sea.

The number of international tourists visiting Vietnam for recreational and leisure purposes reached 4.762 million, up 2.6% while 1.321 million came for work, up 4.3% and 1.347 million others visited relatives, up 6.9%.

The number of foreign tourists travelling by air was up by 4% and by road, 14.8% while by sea was down by 75.4%

The number of visitors from Asia like the Republic of Korea, Japan, Cambodia, and Laos and Europe like Russia, the UK and Germany increased while those from China, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia and Thailand slightly increased or even reduced.

Hue relics welcome 30 millionth visitor

Hue Relics Preservation Centre has welcomed its 30 millionth visitor during the end of the year Golden Tourism Week celebrations at the Hue Heritage Site.

The venue celebrated this milestone on December 30 by presenting Dang Dinh Nguyen from Dong Nai province with a special gift worth VND30 million and two free tickets to visit Hue relics in 2015.

Additionally, the celebrated another milestone with the award of its 12 millionth prize of VND12 million and a free ticket for two to visit the Hue relics next year to Teresh ChenKo Juliia from Russia.

Both Dang Dinh Nguyen and Teresh ChenKo Juliia said it was a wonderful surprise to have arrived at the centre and an honour to be part of this fantastic achievement for the venue.

They look forward to enjoying the prize package the centre awarded.

National Tourism Year 2014 lures 6 mil visitors into Central Highlands

The Central Highlands-Da Lat National Tourism Year 2014 has attracted 6 million visitors and generated a revenue of over VND10,000 billion to the tourism sector, a 12% increase over last year.

The information was unveiled at the closing ceremony held in Da Lat city in the central highlands province of Lam Dong on December 27.

With 74 events held across Da Lat city and five central highlands provinces, tourism potential, tourism products and unique culture of indigenous ethnic groups were introduced to both local and foreign tourists.

According to the organizing board, the Central Highlands-Da Lat National Tourism Year 2014 attracted some 6 million visitors with the number of international tourists growing by 7% against last year. Notably, Da Lat city alone welcomed 4.8 visitors, grossing VND8,500 billion.

In his closing address, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh attributed the Tourism Year’s success to positive contributions of Central Highlands and other localities.

He emphasized the need to develop tourism in line with environmental protection, sustainable development and the conservation of cultural identities.

The organizing board also handed over the flag to representatives from Thanh Hoa province for the  National Tourism Year 2015. 

Thua-Thien Hue welcomes 30 millionth visitor

Central Thua-Thien Hue province’s tourism authorities on December 30 welcomed the 30 millionth visitor to the imperial city of Hue during the 1994-2014 period.

Dang Dinh Nguyen, from the southern province of Dong Nai rounded up 30 million visitors to the city, while Tereshchenko Julia from Russia became the 12 millionth foreign tourists.

The Complex of Hue Monuments was recognised as the world culture heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation in December 1993.

On the occasion, the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre wrapped up the third Golden Week of Tourism programme, running from December 24-30, and honoured outstanding individuals and businesses that made positive contributions to preserving and promoting the heritage’s values.

Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the centre, said that thanks to the Golden Week of Tourism programmes, which helped promote the city’s tangible and intangible cultural values, the number of tourists to the city has increased year after year.

The centre said it earned 159 billion VND (7.43 million USD) from entrance tickets and services.

The centre announced four Golden Week of Tourism programmes in 2015 with numerous activities to lure more arrivals to the city, Hai said.-

Ninh Binh keen to develop tourism environment

Relevant authorities, businesses in northern Ninh Binh province have gathered in a recent workshop to seek ways to enhance the management and protection of the environment and cultural values in developing tourism.

During the event, Hoang Thanh Phong, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stressed hospitality, courteousness and friendliness as the key to attract and keep visitors to the province.

Ninh Binh is home to a number of destinations for tourists, such as the Trang An tourism complex - a UNESCO-recognised cultural and natural heritage site, Tam Coc–Bich Dong caves, Cuc Phuong Natinal Park, Van Long Nature Reserve, Kenh Ga hot springs, Bai Dinh pagoda – the largest Buddhist cultural and spiritual centre in Vietnam, Phong added.

The Ninh Binh People’s Committee has instructed relevant agencies and localities to review operation of tourist agencies while improving quality of the tourism services in tourist areas.

The province by the end of November welcomed about 4 million visitors, including 456,000 foreigners, generating 884.3 billion VND (42.1 million USD) in revenue.

VOV/VNA