A fund for tourism development will be set up in the coming time in hope of providing financial sources for brand building of Vietnam’s tourism in foreign countries, according to Nguyen Van Tuan, head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

Terraced rice fields in Hoang Su Phi district, the northernmost province of Ha Giang during harvest season 

The fund will also support market research and development for tourism products and training for personnel in the sector. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and relevant agencies are reviewing necessary documents for establishment of the fund, he noted.

Tuan added that in 2018, Vietnam’s tourism promotion activities were organised in many countries. The country for the first time held such events in new markets including the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland and New Zealand, in addition to the five Western European nations which are already enjoying visa exemption to Vietnam.

He said that countries with large populations like those in the Middle East, India, and Indonesia hold great potential which Vietnam need to bolster promotion. 

In the remaining months of the year, the tourism sector will participate in the World Travel Market International Travel Trade Show in London in November and tourism events in China and ASEAN.

According to research by the VNAT, the return visitor rate for Vietnam stood at 40.4 percent in 2017, a rise compared to the 33 percent recorded in 2014.

The research also showed that holidaymakers from Europe mostly choose tours travelling from northern to southern regions when they first come to the country, while Japanese tourists often visit destinations with rich cultural values and basic accommodation standards, particularly Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue.

Other destinations that record rising foreign tourist arrivals recently include Quang Binh, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen in the central region, the northern province of Ha Giang and the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.-VNA