This number shows the determination of the tourism industry to fully recover, while also posing significant challenges in competing with other countries in the region.
International tourists visit Hanoi’s Old Quarter by cyclo.
With rapid growth by the end of 2023, the tourism industry expects a strong breakthrough in 2024, welcoming 17-18 million international visitors, equal to that of 2019 – the “golden year” of Vietnamese tourism before the COVID-19 epidemic.
Good news at the beginning of New Year
- In 2024, the tourism industry aims to welcome 17-18 million international visitors and serve 110 million domestic visitors; earning total revenue of about 840 trillion VND. To achieve this goal, the entire industry must make great efforts.
- Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that last year, Vietnam received 12.6 million foreign arrivals, 3.5 times higher than 2022, exceeding the target set at the beginning of the year by 57%. The number of domestic tourists hit 108 million, 5.85 higher than the target, while the sector’s revenue was estimated at 672 trillion VND (27.59 billion USD), surpassing the goal by 3.38% and equivalent to 93% of the figure recorded in 2019.
- With the impressive acceleration of the tourism industry from the end of 2023, especially the signs of improvement in the beginning of 2024, Vietnamese tourism can achieve the set targets and fully recover as before the COVID-19 epidemic.
- The country saw positive signals in many destinations such as Phu Quoc, Tay Ninh and Da Nang right from the beginning of 2024.
- In Phu Quoc, a popular tourist destination in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang, recovery signs have been seen since late 2023 with a surge in the number of tourists. According to Chairman of the People’s Committee of Phu Quoc city, in the period, the pearl island received 2,000-2,500 foreign visitors each day.
- Particularly, the launching of Cau Hon (Kiss Bridge) and an entertainment complex at the Sunset Town invested by Sun Group contributed to making the tourism activities in the island more popular.
- In 2024, most provinces and cities have set high goals for tourism development. Specifically, Hanoi strives to welcome 26.5 million visitors, including 5 million international visitors, while Ho Chi Minh City is determined to welcome about 40 million visitors, including 5 million international visitors.
- Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Authority Nguyen Trung Khanh said that after nearly 2 years of implementing recovery measures, Vietnamese tourism is gaining momentum. 2024 will be the time for tourism to accelerate and increase competitiveness with countries in the region.
Strengthening connections, creating attraction
- In 2024, the world and Vietnamese tourism industry still faces many challenges and difficulties. It is easy to understand as the world situation continues to evolve unpredictably; slow economic growth greatly affects the psychology and spending ability of tourists.
- From business perspective, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietravel Company Nguyen Quoc Ky said that Vietnam’s tourism is growing again with modest growth rate. Typically Thailand is receiving more tourists than Vietnam. Therefore, for tourism to have better breakthrough, it is necessary to have comprehensive change in awareness, methods, promotion of products and image of Vietnamese tourism.
- According to Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association Vu The Binh, tourism links between aviation, travel and destination units and businesses are no longer as tight as before. This makes Vietnam’s tourism products gradually less attractive, many domestic tourist routes have higher service prices than international tourism.
- “Aiming to increase competitiveness, alliances and connections are needed to create quality products with good prices and increase attraction to both international and domestic customers,” Mr. Vu The Binh said.
- The goal of Vietnamese tourism in 2024 is very clear. Aiming to fully recover, Vietnamese tourism needs a strategy to relieve “bottlenecks” in policy and communication.
- Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said that the ministry has asked the Vietnam National Tourism Authority to continue advising on improving institutions and policies, reviewing inadequacies that need to be adjusted; collaborate with ministries and branches to create policies for development of various types of products such as agricultural tourism and digital transformation in tourism.
- “The tourism industry will strengthen tourism statistics; boost promotion; and focus on training human resources with high professional qualifications, especially proficiency in foreign languages and technology,” Mr. Nguyen Van Hung emphasized./.