VN welcomes 13 million foreign tourists in 2017

Director of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Van Tuan said while the number of international visitors to other countries in July and August declined such as the Republic of Korea(down 40%), Thailand (down 9.5%), Malaysia (down 7.5%), and the Philippines (down 38%), Viet Nam attracted over 1.2 million foreigners, a monthly increase of 18.5%.

The country served more than 8.47 million foreign tourists in the first eight months of this year and grossed 335.8 trillion VND (US$14.7 billion) in revenue, year-on-year increases of 29.7% and 26.7%, respectively.

Viet Nam ranks 67th among 136 economies in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index 2017, up eight places compared to the same period in 2015. Tuan, however, admitted that there are still challenges to ensuring sustainable tourism development, including low infrastructure quality, inadequate Government spending on tourism, diminishing natural resources and diseases.

He suggested tapping natural resources to build sea-island, ecological, and cultural tourism products and services. The world’s largest tourism website TripAdvisor announced a list of ten most attractive spots in Viet Nam voted by tourists. Notably, the central province of Quang Binh climbed to fourth on the list, behind Hoi An, Ha Noi, and Ho Chi Minh City only.

According to TripAdvisor, Quang Binh was described as a heaven for exploration and experiences with various tourism destinations and routes such as Son Doong cave, Tu Lan cave system, Da Nhay Beach and Phong Nha- Ke Bang cave, among others.

According to the latest statistics of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Viet Nam ranks first in Asia and sixth among ten countries with the world’s fastest growing tourist destinations for 2017. 

The achievement is attributed to great efforts of all ministries, departments and localities to develop tourism into a spearhead economic industry.

                                                                                                                                    By Vien Nhu