Vietnam’s travel expands

HANOI Vietnam National Administration of Tourism estimates the country welcomed 813,007 international visitors in September representing an increase of 28.0% over same month last year.

China was the top supply market with 235,077 visits improving 55.9%. Other top performers were South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia.

Thailand slipped off the top 10 list recording 18,016 visits, but still representing an increase of 26.5% over the same month last year.

Neighbouring Cambodia in eighth place, posted 26,318 visits down 14.6%.

The bulk of arrivals in September (670,015) passed through the two main aviation gateways Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

For January to September this year, the country welcomed 7,265,380 international tourists growing 25.7% over the same period last year.

VNAT updated its data on its website, late last week, sourced from the government statistics office.

Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister, Vuong Dinh Hue, recently said clearer policies for tourism were needed to improve the country’s competitive edge in the region.

“Some new policies, including restructuring tourism towards sustainable development are needed to make tourism a key industry.”

This would require a review of tourism planning and writing a tourism plan by 2020 with a vision through to 2030 that focused on infrastructure improvements, diversification of tourism products and construction of a proper tourism culture.

It was also necessary to complete related mechanisms and policies to mobilise all available resources to develop tourism and add specific policies for tourism development on taxes and prices, he said.

“The plan should highlight Vietnam as a safe and stable destination for tourists.”