About 600,000 out of total 7.9 million foreign tourists to Vietnam in 2015 were from the US and Canada, accounting for 8%, noted Ha Van Sieu, deputy head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) in Ho Chi Minh City during a conference on North American markets on September 9.
Despite the modest figure, the North American market has seen a speedy growth at 10% annually in recent years, he said, noting that the rise trend will continue in the future.
Meanwhile Vu Nam, Deputy Head of the VNAT’s Market Department, said that the number of outbound tourists from the US and Canada has soared and is likely keeping to grow.
At the same time, Vietnam and the two countries have shared growing diplomatic and economic partnership. The joining of the Trans-Pacific Partnership will also help boost the countries’ economic and tourism cooperation, he said.
Nam also expressed his belief that the Vietnamese community in the US and Canada will also contribute to raising the number of North American tourists to Vietnam in the coming time.
He held that cultural and historical exploring tours will continue to be favored by North American tourists in Vietnam.
Oliver Martin, a Canadian tourism expert, said Vietnamese travel agents should promoting the culture of diverse destinations rather than focusing only on famous places to attract tourists from Canada and the US.
Along with investing in improving services for long-staying tourists, they should also diversify tourism products, especially for young visitors aging between 18-25, he added.
