The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) reported at a seminar on its strategy for 2020 with a vision for 2030 in Hanoi on November 27 that it is a positive sign for the hospitality industry after 10 months of gloom and doom due to the global economic downturn.

The VNAT said it expected continued growth in December to bring the total number of foreign arrivals for the year to some 4 million.

It attributed the success to a series of image promotion campaigns abroad and a discount programme named “Impressive Vietnam!”

“The rally of the Vietnamese economy is another factor attracting foreign tourists,” said the VNAT.

The national strategy for 2020 with a vision for 2030 called for welcoming 7-8 million foreign arrivals and serving 32-35 million domestic holiday-makers by 2015.

The targets for 2020 include 11-12 million international arrivals and 45-48 million domestic vacationers.

The hospitality industry is expected to post revenues of USD 10-11 billion in 2015 and USD 18-19 billion in 2020, which will double in 2030.