Vietnam’s International Tourist Influx Surpasses Expectation, Reaches 8.9 Million
BY Abdul Aziz Nov 11, 2023
Vietnam has exceeded its target of attracting eight million international visitors for the year 2023 by welcoming 8.9 million tourists in the first nine months. This target was set before China reopened following COVID-19-related border closures, from where around one-third of Vietnam's total international tourists came in 2019. This figure is less than half the pre-pandemic international arrivals, which were 18 million. With the introduction of new, more open visa policies, there have been calls to revise the target. Vu The Binh, the chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, said that Vietnam could increase the target to 10-12 million tourists by 2023, which is achievable. During the first nine months of 2023, the number of visitors was 4.7 times higher than the same period in the previous year, but only 69% of the figure seen in the same period of 2019. In September, Vietnam welcomed over one million foreign visitors, down 13.4% compared to the previous month. Out of the total number of tourists, 87.5% arrived in Vietnam by air, 11.8% by road, and 0.7% by sea. The majority of the arrivals were from Asia, followed by Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and Africa. The revenue from accommodation and catering services in this period saw a rise of 16%, and earnings from travel and tourism services increased by 47.7% year-on-year. Micenet Magazine, Australia, has recently called the central region of Vietnam the new hotspot for MICE tourism. The magazine wrote, “Central Việt Nam is coming into its own as more international and domestic flights serve Đà Nẵng City, which is growing as a destination for conferences, meetings and incentive events. Its location between two UNESCO world heritage sites – Hội An, 30km southeast, and Huế, 100km northwest – also helps”. The city offers an array of choices from luxury and 5-star international as well as local brand hotels around the city, with a long beach stretching 60 km. This surge in Vietnam’s tourism has been a result of the accessible e-visa policy made available by Vietnam to its visitors. Even travel agencies have contributed to the spike that has made travel easier for tourists. They are offering cheaper flights and attractive deals to streamline e-visa services for travelers, especially from India. It makes visas a 100% online process, with limited documentation. Now you can look up the best time to visit Vietnam, because this is probably a sign for you to get packing for a Vietnam trip. Read Also: November Trips In 2023: From London To The World The Best Hotels In Mexico City For A Frida Kahlo Pilgrimage Excited For Christmas? Leicester Square’s Glittering Christmas Market Is Returning To London From Nov 8