The General Statistics Office (GSO) of Vietnam reported that the number of foreign tourists to Vietnam reached more than 1.1 million arrivals in the first two months of 2011, a year on year increase of 19.5%.

Of these, nearly 626,000 arrivals came Vietnam for travel and recreation, up more than 14%; those for business were 160,000 arrivals, up 14% and for visiting relatives reached 196,000 arrivals, up nearly 5.3%. The figure for other purposes were 66,000 arrivals, up 54%.

Countries and territories recording the largest tourist arrivals to Vietnam in the first two months of 2011, include: China with 191,100 arrivals, up 39%; the Rupublic of Korea with 102,500, up 17.4% and the US with 96,600, up 8.4%. Japan, Cambodia, and Malaysia also saw significant increases in the number of tourist arrivals to Vietnam.

In three consecutive days, from February 28 to March 2, more than 4,000 maritime tourists from European countries visited Halong and were asked to vote for Halong Bay to be listed among the world’s seven natural wonders. Currently, Vietnam’s Halong Bay is listed in the top five wonders and the country is intensifying the promotion for the election as it is coming to the final phase.In 2011, the Vietnam travel sector has a target of welcoming nearly 5.3 million foreign tourist arrivals and providing services for more than 30 million domestic tourists.

Source: CPV