According to the latest data from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) announced on April 26, in April alone, the number of international visitors is estimated at 1.46 million, increasing by 4.2% compared to March 2019 and up 9.5% compared to April 2018.
The number of domestic tourists during Jan-Apr this year reached 31.5 million.
Total revenue from tourism reached VND227.8 trillion (US$9.8 billion), an increase of 8.91% compared to the same period in 2018.
In the past four months, the number of passengers arriving by air increased by 5.4%, by sea fell by 15.9% and by road increased by 21.1% over the same period in 2018.
The majority of passenger markets increased, of which Thailand increased by 46.5%, Indonesia 29.1%, Taiwan (China) 25%, the Philippines 24.4%, the Republic of Korea (RoK) 23.2%, Malaysia 15.7%, Denmark and Switzerland by 12.1%, Norway 11% and Italy 10.5%.
However, there were also a number of reduced markets, such as Cambodia down by 45.4%, Laos decreased by 18.9%, Finland fell by 10.5%, China 3.8% and Australia 0.3% compared to the same period last year.
Regarding the Chinese market, the VNAT said that, since December 2018, the number of Chinese tourists - the biggest source of regional and world visitors - to Vietnam has continuously decreased. This phenomenon has not only happened in Vietnam but also in other Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand and Singapore.
According to several major travel agencies, the decline of Chinese tourists in recent years mainly occurs with passengers travelling with charter flights serving high-class customers with beach destinations, but for passengers travelling by road and traditional flights, the fluctuations are negligible.
VNAT revealed that it will adjust the plans in the National Action Programme on Tourism and the National Tourism Promotion Programme in 2019 to focus on promoting tourism activities, as well as attending travel fairs and roadshows in China.
From May 15 to 24, the agency will organise a series of programmes to introduce Vietnam’s tourism in China’s cities of Chengdu, Chongqing and Shenzhen, which is expected to attract 300 tourism enterprises, airlines and local tourism management agencies and associations.
In the remaining months of 2019, in addition to China, the Vietnam’s tourism industry will continue to implement programmes to introduce Vietnam’s tourism in key and potential markets, including the RoK, ASEAN, Japan and Europe, while continuing to maintain growth in Taiwan (China), Hong Kong (China), Russia, the US, Western Europe, ASEAN and Australia in order to diversify markets and limit risks.
Vietnam also plans to participate in multiple foreign international tourism fairs, in addition to welcoming business and press delegations from China and the RoK to survey destinations and tourism products in Vietnam.
