Impressive growth, good signals from key markets
According to the latest data from Directorate Statistics, the number of international visitors to Vietnam in the first 9 months of 2024 reached more than 12.7 million, an increase of 43% over the same period last year and surpassing the total of 12.6 million for the whole year of 2023. This shows the positive and strong growth rate of the tourism industry. In particular, in September 2024, although the number of visitors decreased by 11.9% compared to August due to the impact of super typhoon Yagi, Vietnam still welcomed nearly 1.3 million international visitors.
In the past 9 months, the Korean and Chinese markets continued to be the two largest sources of tourists to Vietnam, with 3.3 million and 2.7 million arrivals respectively, accounting for nearly 48% of total international visitors.
Northeast Asia, including Japan and Taiwan (China), also saw strong growth, contributing to a significant increase in the number of international visitors to Vietnam. In particular, Chinese visitors in the first 9 months of the year increased by 141.4% compared to the same period last year. South Korea and Japan also grew by 30.3% and 27.6%, respectively. Markets such as Southeast Asia and Europe (UK, France, Germany, Italy) all grew well, contributing to diversifying the source of international visitors to Vietnam.
Another bright spot in the tourism picture is the Indian market. As of the end of August 2024, Vietnam welcomed about 312,000 Indian visitors, an increase of 263% over the same period in 2023.
Many experts believe that with support from airlines opening more direct flights to India and research on suitable tourism products, this market will continue to grow strongly in the coming time.
Expectations beyond the peak
Some localities have made remarkable breakthroughs in attracting international visitors. For example, Ninh Binh welcomed more than 900,000 international visitors this year, double the total number of visitors for the whole of 2023. Khanh Hoa, with international events such as "Nha Trang International Bay of Light 2024" and "The Grand Prix of Binh Dinh Powerboat Race", has also exceeded the target of welcoming more than 9 million visitors in the first 9 months of the year. Da Nang, Binh Dinh and Binh Thuan all achieved positive results, with the number of international visitors reaching 8.7 million, more than 8 million and 7.4 million, respectively.
With the current growth rate and synchronization of policies, Vietnam is fully capable of achieving the target of welcoming 17-18 million international visitors in 2024.
The tourism industry has been implementing many tourism promotion programs in key markets such as France, Germany, Italy, the US, Japan and India. Events such as the ITE HCMC 2024 International Tourism Fair and the Vietnam Tourism - Culture Promotion Festival in Japan have also created momentum to boost the interest of international tourists.
In addition, Vietnam has also successfully organized a program to promote film tourism in the US - a strategy to attract potential and high-spending customers.
Directorate Statistics shows that Vietnam's tourism industry needs to continue to innovate its methods to meet the requirements of fierce competition in the region and the world.
In the coming time, the tourism industry will continue to organize: Ceremony to honor Vietnam's leading tourism businesses in 2024; National Food Festival in Dien Bien; Introducing Vietnamese tourism at WTM London 2024; CITM 2024 in China; UN Tourism's International Conference on Rural Tourism in Quang Nam...
In particular, in October, the tourism industry will organize a program to promote Vietnamese tourism in India. "This is one of many solutions the tourism industry has put forward to attract this potential tourist market" - Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration Nguyen Le Phuc said.
Mr. Ngo Minh Quan - Acting Director of Vietravel's Foreign Market Division - said that in the near future, the company will participate in WTM London, ITB in Singapore...
Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration Nguyen Le Phuc said that with the current growth rate, the goal of welcoming 17-18 million international visitors is within the capacity of the Vietnamese tourism industry.
