Vietnam’s International Tourism Surges, Attracts 1.5 Million Visitors in February
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Vietnam’s tourism sector continues to flourish as the General Statistics Office (GSO) reports a notable surge in international visitors. In February alone, Vietnam welcomed more than 1.5 million international tourists, marking a 1.3 percent increase compared to the previous month and an impressive 64.1 percent surge compared to the same period last year.
Data from the GSO revealed that the total number of international arrivals for the first two months of 2024 surpassed three million, signifying a remarkable 68.7 percent growth compared to the same period in the preceding year. This achievement also represents 98.5 percent in comparison to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic years.
Among the international visitors, air travelers constituted 84.2 percent, reflecting a 1.6 times increase from 2023. Road travelers accounted for 12.8 percent, while sea travelers made up three percent of the total arrivals.
The positive trend in international tourism is further underscored by a 14 percent increase in revenue from accommodation and dining services. Inbound tourism revenue is estimated to reach VNĐ9 trillion (US$365.2 million), indicating a robust 35.8 percent growth compared to the same period last year.
Several localities have experienced substantial revenue growth in the first two months of 2024, with Hà Nam leading the way with an impressive 88 percent increase. Other notable contributors include Đà Nẵng (86.3 percent), Hà Nội (49.8 percent), HCM City (23 percent), and Quảng Ninh (21.5 percent).
These encouraging results are attributed to favorable visa policies, tourism stimulus programs, and concerted efforts by the government, tourism enterprises, and the community to promote and boost tourism in Vietnam.
Since August 15, 2023, Vietnam officially issues e-visas to citizens of all countries, extends the temporary residence period to 90 days, and increases the temporary residence period to 45 days for citizens of visa-exempt countries entering Vietnam. These visa policies have played a pivotal role in enhancing competitiveness and creating favorable conditions for international visitors to choose Vietnam as their destination.
The upswing in international arrivals throughout 2023 contributed to Vietnam receiving 12.6 million international visitors for the entire year, nearly 3.5 times higher than the figures in 2022. In January 2024 alone, Vietnam received more than 1.5 million international visitors, equivalent to the same period in 2019.
Vietnam’s global standing in tourism is also on the rise. Lonely Planet, a leading travel magazine, includes Vietnam in its list of ten top attractive destinations for graduates, ranking the country in fifth position. Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best recognized An Bàng Beach and Mỹ Khê Beach, ranking fifth and sixth respectively among the top ten beaches in Asia.
Acknowledging the significance of this growth, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has issued a directive urging relevant units to continue studying and expanding flexible visa policies. In Directive 08 on comprehensive, rapid, and sustainable tourism development, PM Chính emphasized the need for ongoing revision, supplementation, and improvement of mechanisms, policies, and laws to adapt to the evolving context. He called for innovation in thinking, addressing challenges in areas such as tourism service prices, product development, and advertising strategies. The directive aims to propel Vietnam’s tourism towards comprehensive, rapid, and sustainable development, contributing significantly to socio-economic growth and enhancing the country’s global image and position.
