VN aims to welcome 20.5 million int'l visitors in 2020

The country is ranked as the ten fastest growing tourist destinations in the world

The information was released by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism at a conference held in Ha Noi on December 23 to review its operation in 2019 and devise tasks for 2020

The number of foreign arrivals to the country was estimated at 18 million in 2019, a year-on-year increase of over 16%; meanwhile, it was predicted that 85 million domestic tourists will have been served this year, up over 6%.

The total revenue from tourism is estimated to reach over VND720 trillion (over 31 billion) in 2019, up 16%.

The average growth rate of visitors in three consecutive years (2016-2019) was 22% per year.

The country is ranked as the ten fastest growing tourist destinations in the world.

To accomplish the goals for next year, Vietnamese tourism sector will put the Tourism Development Assistance Fund into operation as well as enhance tourism promotion through various major events.

Over the last several years, the Vietnamese tourism industry has been posting remarkable growth. The number of visitors from abroad and of domestic travellers has been steadily climbing, bringing higher incomes for those in the tourism sector.

But the flip side of this impressive development is greater challenges with overcrowding and the upkeep of tourist destinations.

Most experts say the increase in the number of tourists is positive for the sector, but some have expressed fears that it may have reached its saturation point and the growth is not sustainable.

A recent World Bank report on Viet Nam's economic development placed special focus on tourism, saying it has been experiencing a boom for most of the past decade and that the country has established itself as one of Southeast Asia’s top tourist destinations.

“The number of international arrivals to the country has nearly quadrupled during this period, from 4.2 million in 2008 to 15.5 million in 2018," the report reads.

"Domestic tourism, which is significantly greater in volume than inbound tourism from abroad, has experienced a similar surge – a four-fold increase in the number of domestic traveller-trips, from 20.5 million in 2008 to 80 million in 2018.

“The sector’s rapid expansion, however, has brought it to a tipping point in its development, where continued growth, if not well managed, could have adverse economic, environmental and social impacts.”

By Vien Nhu