International tourists visit Vietnam

The tourism sector aims to greet 17 – 20 millionforeign visitors by 2020 as targeted under the Poliburo’s Resolution No.8-NQ/TWon developing tourism into a spearhead economy.

It also looks to serve 85 million domestictourists in 2019 and gross nearly 700 trillion VND (30.1 billion USD) inrevenue.

According to the Vietnam NationalAdministration of Tourism (VNAT), the number of international visitors toVietnam in the first six months of 2019 was estimated at 8.5 million, up 7.5percent compared to the same period last year.

In January-June, the tourism sector grossed338.2 trillion VND (14.5 billion USD) in revenue, a year-on-year rise of 8.4percent.

Vu Quoc Tri, Chief of the VNAT’s Office, saidAsian tourists made up 77 percent of total international visitors to Vietnam,up 8.2 percent year-on-year.

Thailand reported remarkable growth with 245,000holidaymakers visiting Vietnam, up 45.5 percent, and was among the top 10markets for visitor numbers.

Exchanges of visitors between Vietnam andThailand have become stronger in recent years thanks to the launch of manydirect flights between the two countries.

The number of visitors to Vietnam from Indonesiarose by 22 percent and the Philippines 20.4 percent.

In the remainder of 2019, the tourism sector willcontinue promoting tourism in key markets such as China, the Republic of Korea,the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Japan, and Europe whilemaintaining growth in other markets like Taiwan, Hong Kong, Russia, the US, WesternEurope and Australia.-VNA