Vietnam attracts growing interest from global travellers

According to online travel services platform Agoda, search volume for Vietnam has shown a consistent upward trend, culminating in a dramatic 84 per cent spike in September compared to the same period last year as international tourists plan their Christmas and New Year holidays. The figures moved from a modest 4 per cent on-year increase in July to 31 per cent in August.

Photo: baodautu.vn

Tourist interest in northern Vietnam's key regions remains strong despite damage from Typhoon Yagi. Booking data on the platform indicates a 4 per cent on-year increase in room reservations from August to October for popular destinations including Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Giang, Halong Bay, Haiphong, and Cat Ba.

Vu Ngoc Lam, director of Agoda Vietnam, said, "We expect tourist numbers to surge in October and late this year as we enter the peak season for international visitors and family travel."

According to the General Statistics Office, international arrivals to Vietnam in the first nine months of 2024 increased by 43 per cent compared to the same period in 2023. With 12.7 million international visitors, this figure has already surpassed the total number of tourists for the entire year of 2023.

As reported by dangcongsan.vn, Nguyen Le Phuc, deputy director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said, "Despite the impact from Typhoon Yagi in the northern regions, tourism activities have quickly recovered."

"At the current growth rate, the target of welcoming 17-18 million international tourists in 2024 is well within Vietnam's tourism capacity," Phuc added.

To draw in more tourism, especially international visitors, Phuc explained that the tourism sector will continue to strengthen promotional activities and organise major events towards the end of this year, including the Vietnam Tourism Excellence Awards ceremony, the National Food Festival in Dien Bien, and Vietnam's tourism exhibition booth at the 2024 World Travel Market in the United Kingdom.

"While focusing on attracting tourists, localities and businesses must also concentrate on diversifying and improving the quality of tourism products and tours, especially those based on traditional cultural values. This will encourage tourist spending, extend the length of stay for international visitors, and increase tourism revenue," Phuc said.

The peak season for international tourists to visit Vietnam typically runs from September-October through to March-April of the following year.

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