Vietnam’s tourism up 24% in November

HANOI Vietnam National Administration of Tourism estimates the country welcomed 926,642 international visitors in November representing an increase of 24.9% over same month last year.

China was the top supply market with 251,671 visits improving 43.1%. Other top performers were South Korea, Japan, Russia and the United States.

Thailand ranked in eighth place recording 27,070 visits and representing an increase of 16.2% over the same month last year.

Neighbouring Cambodia slipped off the top 10 source posting 21,662 visits increasing 14.4%, while Laos recorded 13,544 visits improving 36.4%.

All of the country’s top markets are in the Asia/Pacific region with the exception of Russia (fourth), the US (fifth), the UK (ninth) and France (10th).

The bulk of arrivals in November (768,221) passed through the two main aviation gateways Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

For January to November, this year, the country welcomed 9,004,039 international tourists growing 25.4% over the same period last year.

VNAT updated its data on its website, Thursday, sourced from the government statistics office.

To boost tourism, Vietnam will pilot a new electronic visa scheme for foreigners starting 1 February next year.

The government will compile a list of nations whose citizens are entitled to e-visas and name the country’s border gates applicable for e-visas during the trial run.

The e-visa pilot scheme will last two years starting from 1 February 2017. Its results will be reported at the last National Assembly session in 2018.

Vietnam offers visa-free travel to seven countries; Japan, South Korea, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Russia.

It also has a visa-free policy for nine ASEAN countries; Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines.

Vietnam decided to extend visa exemptions by an additional year for tourists from the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain to boost travel arrivals.

These countries are the most likely to switch to an e-visa system once the exemption runs out.

Nationals of the five countries will enjoy visa-free travel for a 15-day stay until the ruling expires 30 July 2017.