Vietnamese tourism remains optimistic in attracting international visitors

According to a report released by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) last week, the number of international visitors to Vietnam in July is estimated at 1.15 million, a decrease of nearly 10 per cent compared to the 1.24 million in June.

However, it expects the tourism industry in Vietnam to successfully achieve the target of at least 17 million international visitors in 2024.

Vietnamese tourism remains optimistic in attracting international visitors

July saw the least number of foreign tourists in the year so far, continuing the downward trend for the third consecutive month since May.

The Asian market experienced the largest decline at 13.2 per cent, with key tourist markets of Vietnam such as China and South Korea both seeing a decrease in visitor numbers by 12 and 6 per cent, respectively, compared to the previous month.

Some of the 10 largest markets sending tourists to Vietnam also experienced a decrease in July, for example Malaysia decreased by 30 per cent, Thailand by 28.6 per cent, India by 24 per cent, and Japan by 4 per cent.

The United States, the third-biggest source of visitors for Vietnam’s tourism in the Americas, also experienced a three per cent decline compared to the previous month, according to the report.

In contrast to the downturn in the Asian and American markets, the tourism industry has seen a bright spot from European markets as the number of visitors increased compared to the previous month, especially the United Kingdom with 25 per cent growth, France up 33 per cent, Germany 27 per cent, and Russia 75 per cent.

The VNAT assesses that the decrease in international visitors in July is normal as Vietnam is currently in the low season for international tourism, so tourists tend to prioritise travelling to Europe and within their home countries.

Pham Ha, CEO of Lux Group, stated, “Tourism is always seasonal, and international tourists tend not to visit Vietnam during the summer, preferring to come towards the end of the year to avoid the cold. The peak period of Vietnam’s tourism industry in 2019 also recorded the lowest international visitor numbers in June and July, with 1.18 million and 1.31 million tourists, respectively.”

Meanwhile, most European markets continue to experience strong growth due to the effectiveness of visa policies and relaxed border controls implemented since August 2023, along with various tourism promotion activities.

Southeast Asian markets are also showing good growth, such as Indonesia and the Philippines, with growth rates of 107 and 58 per cent, respectively.

The decline in international tourists during the summer is not only happening in Vietnam but also elsewhere in the region.

According to data from the Korea Tourism Organisation in Vietnam, South Korea welcomed approximately 1.34 million international visitors in July, about 16 per cent higher than Vietnam. However, July is also the third consecutive month that the number of international visitors to South Korea has decreased.

Japan is a special case in Asia, recording an impressive growth in international visitors during the summer, with a remarkable number of 3.1 million tourists in June as its weak yen fuelled a tourism boom.

In the first seven months of this year, international visitors to Vietnam reached nearly 10 million, an increase of 51 per cent compared to the same period in 2023 and a 2 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2019. The tourism industry expects international visitors to return to Vietnam and increase significantly in the last months of the year, especially during the peak season for international tourists from October to April each year.

According to the VNAT, the programmes to introduce Vietnamese tourism abroad in countries such as China, India, Australia, and New Zealand. They will also organise a programme to promote Vietnamese tourism and cinema in the United States and participate in various international travel fairs.

Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, deputy director Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism We all see that the Muslim tourist market holds significant untapped potential, especially as the trend shifts towards Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam. However, many experts raised concerns about the city’s lack of specialised tourism programmes for Muslim visitors, despite the increasing number of Muslim tourists. The city has no specific programmes for individual religious groups, and it targets key markets including Europe, the Americas, Australia, Southeast and Northeast Asia, and India. Among these, Indian tourists, many of whom are Muslim, ranked in the top eight international visitor markets to Ho Chi Minh City in 2022-2023. Hieu emphasised that the city will encourage restaurants, hotels, and service providers to adopt Halal kitchens to cater to this segment. We need to ensure that our facilities can meet the dietary and religious needs of Muslim visitors to make them feel welcome and comfortable. Ho Chi Minh City is developing programmes to attract tourists from its target markets, focusing on the events industry, leisure travel, community-based tourism, and medical tourism. The tourism sector is also ramping up efforts to promote the city to these markets. We are intensifying our promotional activities to draw more tourists from these key markets to the southern hub.

Tourism sector moves to optimise new visa policy The new visa policy, coming into force on August 15, is believed to open up various opportunities for tourism development, and stakeholders in this industry are taking actions to seize those chances.

Culinary delights add to allure of Vietnamese tourism With its rich and diverse culinary heritage and the refinement in cooking and enjoyment cultivated over thousands of years, Vietnam holds huge potential to develop culinary tourism, turning its gastronomy into a captivating advantage to attract visitors.

Points of interest to advance fortunes in Vietnamese tourism It was hoped that 2023 would see a strong tourism recovery but because of economic recession and other factos, both inbound and domestic markets have not been able to regain 2019 levels.

Promoting Vietnamese tourism globally is a must There are still many challenges in the first half of 2024, which will gradually become better in the second half of the year because of the resilience in the economy. Travelling by air will be affected by unreasonable airfares, while highway networks will be expanded, leading to the increment in travelling by cars and buses.