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Vietnam's tourism industry up by
11.3%
HANOI - Vietnam has
attracted 2.17 million foreign visitors so far this
year, an increase of 11.3 percent on last year, tourism
officials have said.
The Vietnam National
Administration of Tourism (VNAT) reports that the
majority of tourists were Japanese, with 198,000
visiting this year. There were 157,000 Taiwanese
visitors, 68,000 Koreans, 42,300 Americans and 31,000
mainland Chinese. Despite the global downturn in tourism
following the September 11 terror attacks, Vietnam
welcomed 2.33 million foreign visitors last year, an
increase of 9 percent on 2000.
The VNAT
officials attribute the success to the industry's
continued efforts to diversify tourism programs, the
building and upgrading of new destinations and the
development of ecological, cultural and historical
tours. Other efforts include investment in activities
such as the Hue festival, the Ha Long Tourism Year and
events to celebrate the approach of the 2003 Southeast
Asian Games. The VNAT has also participated in various
overseas exhibitions to promote Vietnam's traditional
culture, food and tourist attractions.
Tourism
offices have been established in Japan, France, the
United States, China, Germany, Singapore and Australia.
Tourism officials also attribute the growth in the
industry to the country's political stability and
safety. However, some officials and tour operators say
the industry now faces many challenges resulting from
inadequate investment and poor management.
"Domestic trips need improved control to ensure
foreign tourists don't pay unreasonable fees for tourism
services and feel ill at ease during their trip," said
Nguyen Duc Cuong, the director of the Youth Tourism
Company in Ho Chi Minh City.
His colleague Ly
Tat Vinh added that the industry should focus on
practical problems such as providing more hotel rooms in
peak season, improving the skill of guides, and
expanding services such as e-payment networks to
increase travelers' convenience. Other tour operators in
Ho Chi Minh City agreed, adding that heavy traffic also
presents safety problems for visitors and may influence
their opinion of Vietnam.
In an effort to
overcome these problems, the tourism industry is
planning to establish the Vietnam Tourist Association
this month to address fees and the quality of service,
and has also suggested establishing a tourism police
force to safeguard visitors' interests and ensure their
safety.
Tourism officials set a target number of
3.5 million foreign visitors for 2005.
(Asia
Pulse/VNA)
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