The tourism sector organised successfully the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2019 in Ha Long city in the north-eastern province of Quang Ninh (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The number ofinternational visitors to Vietnam in the first six months of 2019 was estimatedat 8.5 million, up 7.5 percent compared to the same period last year, theVietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) said at a press conference onJuly 9.
In January-June, the tourism sector grossed338.2 trillion VND (14.5 billion USD) in revenues, a year-on-year rise of 8.4percent, the VNAT reported.
Vu Quoc Tri, chief of office at the VNAT, saidthe tourism industry deployed a number of measures to maintain the growth ofdomestic and overseas tourists in the six-month period.
He added that the VNAT also completed andsubmitted to the Prime Minister a strategy for Vietnam’s tourism developmentthrough 2030, with a vision to 2050 and a scheme on rural tourism developmentin association with building new rural areas.
The sector organised successfully the ASEANTourism Forum (ATF) 2019 with over 50 events and took advantage of thecountry’s hosting the second summit between the Democratic People’s Republic ofKorea (DPRK) and the US to promote the image of Vietnam.
The VNAT participated in six internationaltourism fairs and organised eight road shows in ASEAN countries, China, Russia,and the Republic of Korea (RoK) as well as opened the first tourism promotionrepresentative office in the RoK under the public-private partnership model.
It also assisted a number of localities such asCao Bang, Ha Tinh, Ninh Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Khanh Hoa in organisingtourism promotion events and developing tourism products, according to Tri.
However, besides the achievements, shortcomingsremain in tourism activities such as ensuring security, safety andenvironmental hygiene, especially during festivals and tourism high season, hesaid.
In theremainder of 2019, Vietnam aims to maintain the growth of domestic andinternational tourists to realise the yearly target of 17.5-18 million foreignvisitors and 85 million domestic travellers. The total revenues from tourismare expected to reach 700 trillion VND (30.1 billion USD).
Tri said the VNAT will host an event to honourleading tourism businesses. It willcontinue improving the management of destinations and quality of tourismservices and tour guides, he added.
The administration will also coordinate withlocalities to organise the International Travel Expo (ITE) in Ho Chi Minh Cityand the National Tourism Year 2019 in the central coastal province of KhanhHoa, and prepare for the National Tourism Year 2020 in the northern province ofNinh Binh.
The VNATplans to proactively promote the Formula One (F1) racing car to be held inHanoi in April 2020, and the ASEAN Year 2020 when Vietnam will serve as Chairof the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).-VNA
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