Vietnam is estimated to have welcomed nearly 1.3 million foreign tourists in the first four months of this year, down by 17.8 per cent compared to the same period of 2008, the government’s General Statistics Office (GSO) said.
During the period, visitors to Vietnam for entertainment purpose reached 797,700, down 19.7 per cent on-year, arrivals for business purpose was 219,200, down 27.7 per cent and the rest was to visit relatives.
Tourists came to Vietnam by air, sea and road were down 10 per cent, 63.1 per cent and 43.1 per cent, on year, respectively.
Between January and April, the nation witnessed increases in only three markets of the U.S. with 152,200 visitors, Australia with 84,800 and Canada with 36,200, up 7.8 per cent, 1.3 per cent and 6.4 per cent consecutively.
Meanwhile, the number of arrivals from Vietnam’s traditional markets such as China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan sharply dropped.
The situation is attributed to the global financial downturn and economic recession and the ineffective cooperation among domestic tourism businesses in implementing tourism stimulus packages, travel firms said.
International arrivals to Vietnam will grow steadily from now to 2012, according to a report by the global market research firm RNCOS.
The report said the Southeast Asian country will serve around 4.3 million this year, 4.5 million next year, 4.8 million in 2011 and 5.2 million in 2012. (GSO April 2009)
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