VGP – It is estimated that international arrivals to Viet Nam reached over 3.54 million in the first half of 2013, according to the General Statistics Office.
The majority of visitors (2169.4) came to Viet Nam for tourism and convalescence. Those who arrived for business rose 1.8% to 592.5.
The number of tourists from Russia, Thailand, Indonesia and Chine increased 57.8%, 24.3%, 21.5%, and 21%, respectively.
Official data show that up to 80% of the total figure travelled by air, up 0.8%; 15.9% by road, up 12.5%; and 3.4% by sea, up 2.7%.
Slow economic recovery and high unemployment were attributed to the modest inrise of foreign tourist inflow.
Internally, the protection and improvement of landscapes, cultural and historical sites, promotion activities as well as tourism infrastructure still remained limited.
Rising expenditure
Average expenditure per foreign tourist per day rose to US$105.7 in 2011 from US$74.6 in 2003, the statistics agency reported.
A foreign tourist was estimated to spend a total of US$661.4 on average in 2005. The figure soared to US$913 in 2011 and US$1002.5 last year.
The total revenue from foreign tourists stood at US$2,300 million in 2005, surging to US$4,450 million in 2010, US$5,710 million in 2011, and US$6,830 million, doubling the disbursed volume of ODA, or equivalent to 70% of the country’s remittance.
Tourism has become one of the key industries in Viet Nam as it brings back considerable revenue, create jobs, and more importantly, promote the country’s image effectively to international friends./.
By Hai Minh
Đăng ký: VietNam News
