The number of international visitors to Vietnam was estimated at 6.85 million in the first 11 months, posting a year-on-year increase of 10.2 percent, according to the General Statistics Office.
Of the total, 4.2 million came to the country for travel and leisure purposes, up 12.1 percent against the same period last year, and 1.15 million arrived for business, up 8.3 percent, while the remaining 1.14 million for visiting relatives, up 8.7 percent. In terms of mode of transport, the number of foreign tourists travelling by air was over 5.4 million, up 7 percent, 1.252 million by land (up 38.7 percent), and 183,500 by sea.
In the January-November period, 1.72 million were from China, up 34.1 percent against the same period last year, followed by those from the Republic of Korea with 682,900 (7.4 percent); Japan 553,600 (5.5 percent); Cambodia 310,200 (3.6 percent), and Australia 290,100 (10.9 percent).
Despite the international and domestic economic slowdown, Vietnam’s tourism still maintains a remarkable growth rate. The number of tourists coming to Vietnam in the years of 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 was 3.747 million, 5.049 million, 5.25 million and 6.874 million, respectively, making an average growth rate of 22.3 percent per year.
Under the Strategy on Vietnam’s Tourism Development until 2020 with a vision to 2030, Vietnam sets the goal of receiving from 7.4-7.5 million foreign visitors by 2015. The nation is expected to achieve the goal two years ahead of the set time.