HCMC sets high target

HO CHI MINH CITY, 20 November 2014: HCMC’s tourism officials believe international tourist arrivals to the city could reach 4.4 million this year.
Ho Chi Minh City’s Tourism Promotion Centre deputy director, Nguyen Bao Anh, told local media that the city’s tourism market has recovered in recent months.
“Many local tourist companies have reported positive growth, especially since the second half of October when international arrivals grew 10% to 12% against the same period last year.”
inside no 2To maintain growth, the city’s tourism sector will organise many programmes including a food festival, this December, to woo more guests to the city, the deputy director said.
The city will further promote 100 interesting places and launch waterway tours.
According to the HCMC government’s figures, the city attracted more than 462,560 foreign tourists in October increasing 2% during the same month last year.
For January to October, this year, the city welcomed 3.5 million international arrivals, a year-on-year rise of 8%.
Given the increase in international visitors during the first 10 months and the planned promotions, the tourism sector believes it will attract 4.4 million foreigners, accounting for 53% of all visitors to Vietnam, this year.
The southern city has 1,402 hotels with 37,000 rooms, an increase of over 1,000 hotels and 26,000 rooms compared to 2006.
There are 866 travel firms and 5,000 tour guides in the city.
Last year, Ho Chi Minh City welcomed 4.1 million international tourists, up 8.1% over 2012.

sourced:ttrweekly.com