Some 31 per cent of polled foreign tourists expressed their interest in returning to Vietnam within two years, signaling a good future for the country’s hospitality sector, according to a survey by Visa International Asia Pacific (Visa) and Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) May 3.
This is good news for the non-smoke industry in the coming time, helping boost the country’s GDP this year.
The survey of 5,000 foreign arrivals on their future plans, jointly conducted by International Asia Pacific (Visa) and Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), showed interest in Vietnam rising from 24 per cent in 2007 to 31 per cent in 2007.
The interviewees said Vietnam is an ideal destination with low prices of goods and services (49 per cent), beautiful landscape (44 per cent), diversified and long-standing culture (41 per cent), adventure tourism (38 per cent) and friendly people (35 per cent).
“It is very encouraging to see Vietnam viewed so favorably, and continuing to grow in stature as a place of likely travel for jetsetters from around the world,” Stuart Tomlinson, Director of Visa in charge of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia said, adding that in the future, it would become a destination for high-income tourists.
According to Vu The Binh, Chief of the Travel Department of the VNAT, Vietnam’s tourism industry is growing out of its infancy. In 2006, major markets grew rapidly, especially tourists coming from South Korea (an increase of 29 per cent), the US (16.8 per cent), and Japan (13.4 per cent).
Other markets like Canada, the UK, Germany and Australia saw stable development. Thanks to road traffic clearance and strengthened cooperation within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the flow of tourists from ASEAN countries to Vietnam increased 46 per cent from Thailand, 31 per cent from Malaysia and 27.6 per cent from Singapore.
This rise was attributed to efforts of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) as well as local agencies to develop the hospitality sector, along with the environmentally and culturally sensitive travel trend.
However, tourism watchdogs also admitted the flow of foreign visitors to Vietnam is stronger while tourism infrastructure and services are lacking, emphasizing that without an investment strategy and proper development plans, Vietnam’s tourism will incur heavy losses.
The tourism industry, which contributes 8 per cent to the country’s GDP, is considered a key economic sector for Vietnam.
To date, Vietnam has five UNESCO world natural and cultural heritage sites, including the complex of Hue monuments, Hoi An ancient town, the My Son sanctuary, Ha Long bay, and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. It also boasts other world intangible heritages, namely Tay Nguyen gong culture and Hue royal music.
To date, Vietnam has more than 500 international and 5,000 domestic travel firms, and more than 6,000 hotels, (2,575 of which are starred), totaling more than 72,458 rooms.
In the first four months this year Vietnam welcomed more than 1.46 million international holiday makers, up 12.5 on year. (Pioneer, New Hanoi)
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