Ho Chi Minh City sees rising number of foreign visitors

Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam welcomed 703,000 foreign visitors in the first quarter of this year, an increase of 11.5 percent over the same period last year, the city's Tourism Department has reported.

The city also attracted 180,000 domestic visitors in the first quarter, a surge of 31.5 percent from 2006.
Tourism generated VND 4.8 trillion ($300 million) in revenues for the city, reflecting a rise of a massive 33 percent over last year's corresponding period.

The upgrading of the trans-Asia highway and the promotion of caravan tours in foreign countries has been credited with helping to attract 93,000 foreigners by road and sea to Vietnam, the department said.
Eager to take advantage of the city's burgeoning tourism market, tourist agencies in the city have been offering convenient new services to clients, such as e-booking facilities on their websites.

Officials from the southern hub are now confident of meeting this year's international visitor target of 2.65 million.

(Source: VNA)