Accordingly, the number of foreign visitors to Vietnam inthe January-July period surpassed 9.79 million, up 7.9 percent year on year. Thenumber of tourists through air route rose by 4.7 percent, others via sea route down11.3 percent, and via roads up 25.2 percent from the same period last year.
Arrivals from Thailand went up 48.2 percent, Taiwan (China)up 27.6 percent, the Republic of Korea 22.1 percent, Indonesia 21.2 percent,India 19.9 percent, among others.
Several markets saw downtrend such as Cambodia 51.6 percent,Laos 31.3 percent, Hong Kong (China) 14.5 percent, Finland 9.2 percent, China2.8 percent and Australia 1.2 percent.
Domestic tourist arrivals reached 52.4 million, and 26.9million of them stayed overnight. The total tourism revenue hit 401 trillionVND (17.4 million USD), up 8.67 percent year-on-year.
This year, the sector strives to serve 17.5 – 18 millionforeign and 85 million domestic visitors, and earned about 700 trillion VND. Ifthe target is reachable, it will fulfill the goal of welcoming 17 – 20 millionforeigners by 2020 one year ahead of schedule in accordance with thePolitburo’s Resolution No.08-NQ/TW on developing tourism into a pillar economy.
The VNAT has also called on localities, lodging facilities,tourist areas to minimise the use of nylon bags and disposable plastic items;classify, collect and recycle plastic wastes; and use more eco-friendlyproducts.-VNA