Vietnam’s tourism sector lured eight foreign-invested projects valued at US$1.6 billion in the first quarter of 2008, nearly equaling the whole last year’s figure, the Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reported.
The figure accounted for 29.6 per cent of the country’s total FDI in the period, the National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) said, adding that most of the projects concentrated in the central coastal region.
Ho Chi Minh City took the lead with revenues reaching VND6.7 trillion (US$418.8 million) in the reviewed period, up 38 per cent on year, followed by Hanoi, Quang Nam, Lam Dong, Haiphong and Can Tho.
“Vietnam is determined to implement policies to encourage investment in tourism,” affirmed Director of the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MoPI)’s Foreign Investment Department Phan Huu Thang at a meeting in Hanoi on April 17.
In 2008, the tourism sector will focus on organizing major important events such as the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2009 (ATF 2009), Miss Tourism Contest 2008, the first of its kind in Vietnam, and participating in international tourism fairs in Japan, Thailand, France, the US, China, Cambodia and the UK.
The sector will also implement strategic tasks to develop tourism until 2020 with a vision toward 2030, a project to promote tourism activities on islands and along the coastline until 2020, adjust overall planning to develop tourism in the Red River Delta and other major areas, and make full preparations for Buddha’s birthday.
Vietnam welcomed more than 1.2 million foreign arrivals in the first three months of this year, a 15.7 per cent rise over the same period last year.
Vietnam hopes to attract five million foreign tourists and serve 21 million domestic holiday makers to yield VND64 trillion (US$4 billion) in 2008.
The tourism sector now contributes 8 per cent to Vietnam’s national GDP. (Youth, Vietnam & World Economy)
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