Vietnam attracts less int’l visitors in August
By Dao Loan - The Saigon Times Daily
HCMC – Nearly 430,000 foreigners have visited the country this month, up 4.4% from last month, a slower growth rate than two previous months, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).
International tourist arrivals surged 9.1% in July and 7% in June. Normally, the tourism sector sees a steady decline in international visitor arrivals on a monthly basis in the low season from April to August. But this year the trend is different with foreign visitors down in April and May only.
More than half of international travelers have come to the country for travel, and the rest for business and other purposes.
Some key markets include China and South Korea, from which visitor numbers have risen 16% and 15% respectively this month. Vietnam has attracted less visitors from Australia, Taiwan and the U.S.
However, according to VNAT, foreign visitor arrivals have leapt sharply in the year to date, with nearly 3.35 million, up 35.2% year-on-year. China and South Korea are still among the biggest markets for the country’s tourism sector.
More than 598,000 Chinese have visited the country this year, up 98.4%, nearly 332,000 South Koreans, up 29%, and 296,000 Americans, up 7%.