Favorable visa policies, enhanced tourism promotion programs, and prestigious tourism awards presented by international organizations have attracted an increasing number of international visitors to Vietnam.
The goal of welcoming 17-18 million international visitors is feasible.
According to the General Statistics Office, international visitors to Vietnam in September 2024 are estimated to reach nearly 1.3 million, an increase of 20.9% over the same period in 2023; in the third quarter of 2024, it is estimated to reach nearly 3.8 million, an increase of 17% over the same period last year; in the first 9 months of this year, it is estimated to reach more than 12.7 million, an increase of 43% over the same period in 2023.
The representative of the General Statistics Office said that favorable visa policies, enhanced tourism promotion programs, along with prestigious tourism awards presented by international organizations have attracted an increasing number of international visitors to Vietnam.
Regarding the goal of Vietnam welcoming 17-18 million international visitors in 2024, from a statistical perspective, Ms. Dinh Thi Thuy Phuong - Director of the Department of Trade and Service Statistics said: "To achieve the goal of welcoming 18 million international visitors, in the last 3 months of the year, we must reach nearly 5.3 million visitors, an average of more than 1.76 million visitors/month. This is a very difficult task".
Director Dinh Thi Thuy Phuong explained that 2019 (the year before the COVID-19 pandemic) was the golden age of tourism, with Vietnam welcoming more than 18 million international visitors. However, the fourth quarter of 2019 only reached more than 5.1 million visitors, averaging more than 1.71 million visitors per month. Therefore, much effort is needed to achieve the goal of welcoming 18 million visitors in 2024.
"For the goal of welcoming 17 million international visitors, in the last 3 months of 2024, we must reach nearly 4.3 million visitors, an average of more than 1.43 million visitors/month. Because the fourth quarter of each year is the peak season for welcoming international tourists, the goal of welcoming 17 million international visitors to Vietnam is feasible, under the condition that the world and domestic situation does not have any unfavorable changes," said Director Dinh Thi Thuy Phuong.
Sharing the same opinion, Mr. Nguyen Le Phuc, Deputy Director of the National Tourism Administration, said that although many northern localities were recently affected by storm No. 3, with the Government's strong direction, tourism activities were quickly restored.
"Due to the characteristics of weather and climate, the peak season for international visitors to Vietnam usually starts from September and October to the end of March and April of the following year. With the current growth rate, the goal of welcoming 17-18 million international tourists in 2024 is completely within the capacity of Vietnam tourism," said Mr. Phuc.
Strengthening solutions to attract international tourists
To attract international visitors to Vietnam in the coming time, Ms. Dinh Thi Thuy Phuong - Director of the Department of Trade and Service Statistics proposed to continue improving visa policies, especially expanding the list of unilateral visa exemptions. Building a coordination mechanism between transportation sectors (aviation, railway, ...); accommodation and catering services; travel and tourism; retail goods... Strengthening tourism promotion and advertising, finding new tourist markets instead of focusing on a number of traditional markets. Applying information technology, artificial intelligence and promoting digital transformation in tourism.
In parallel with attracting visitors, it is necessary to focus on diversifying and improving the quality of tourism products and tours, especially tourism products based on exploiting traditional cultural values, encouraging tourist spending, extending the length of stay of international tourists, and increasing tourism revenue. Developing sustainable tourism, associated with environmental protection, protecting natural landscapes, and preserving traditional cultural values.
Mr. Nguyen Le Phuc, Deputy Director of the National Tourism Administration (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) said that in the last months of 2024, the tourism industry will continue to implement the plan of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to implement Directive No. 08/CT-TTg dated February 23, 2024 of the Prime Minister on comprehensive, rapid and sustainable tourism development; action plan to implement Resolution No. 82/NQ-CP dated May 18, 2023 of the Government on key tasks and solutions to accelerate recovery and accelerate effective and sustainable tourism development.
The tourism industry will continue to promote activities and organize important events in the last months of 2024. Some notable events include the Ceremony to honor Vietnam's leading tourism businesses; National Food Festival in Dien Bien; Vietnam tourism booth at the 2024 UK WTM Fair. Vietnam will also participate in the 2024 CITM Fair in China, and organize the 11th Vietnam - Taiwan (China) Tourism Cooperation Conference and the UN Tourism International Conference on Rural Tourism in Quang Nam.
The representative of the National Tourism Administration emphasized that Vietnam has great potential to become a quality destination, welcoming high-class international delegations (in terms of nature, rich and diverse culture; stable and safe politics; friendly people, etc.). To develop high-class tourism, the role of businesses and localities is very important in linking products, perfecting high-quality service processes and standards, and forming an ecosystem to provide high-class products and services to tourists.
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