HCM City, Quang Ninh tourism up

Tourists visit Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh which aims to receive 8.5 million holiday makers, including 3.5 foreigners, and earn VND13 trillion in tourism revenue in 2016.-VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Hong

According to the Viet Nam Administration of Tourism, the revenue of HCM City’s tourism industry amounted to an estimated VND103 trillion (about US$4.48 billion), up 9 per cent year-on-year.

The city welcomed an estimated 5.2 million foreign arrivals this year, surging 10 per cent over the previous year, while serving 21.8 million domestic travelers.

Next year, the city targets to attract 5.5 million international tourists, 7 per cent higher than this year. It also strives to serve 24 million local arrivals, up 10 per cent year-on-year. That will suggest an 8 per- cent increase in tourism revenue to VND112 trillion.

Numerous initiatives have been taken to spur the city’s tourism growth, said the municipal Department of Tourism.

Top priority is now given to promoting rural tourism, craft tourism, river tourism and eco-tourism, it said.

The city has five rural districts, which have potential for rural and craft tourism, it said, adding that the tourism diversification also focuses on river and canal tours.

Meanwhile, Quang Ninh’s tourism revenue this year topped more than VND13 trillion ($565 million), a year-on-year rise of 23 per cent, according to the provincial Department of Tourism.

The significant revenue increase is attributable to the positive growth in number of tourists which stands at 8.3 million, including 3.5 million foreigners.

This year, the province has focussed on perfecting the infrastructure of tourism sector, improving quality of personnel resources, diversifying tourism products, as well as accelerating tourism promotion activities both at home and abroad.

The locality, which is home to Ha Long Bay – a natural world heritage site, aims to receive 8.5 million holiday makers, including 3.5 foreigners and earn VND13 trillion in tourism revenue in 2016.