The central coastal province of Khanh Hoa received more than 3 million tourist arrivals in 2013, an increase of over 29 percent against the previous year.
The figure included nearly 712,000 foreigners and 2.3 million domestic visitors, up 34 percent and 28 percent, respectively, said the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The province also welcomed 11 million others who made one-day visits.
With 150,000 arrivals, Russia topped the list of countries sending citizens to Khanh Hoa thanks to a new direct air route connecting Russia’s Far East and the province’s Cam Ranh airport and another linking Moscow and Nha Trang city.
The number of Russian tourists was followed by those of Australia, the US, France, the UK, and Germany.
The time that foreign tourists spend here also increased to more than 3.2 days per person.
There are more than 540 tourist residence facilities, including 48 three- to five-star hotels, with nearly 15,000 rooms in Khanh Hoa, where shopping and entertainment centres as well as unique tourism products are mushrooming.
In 2014, the province plans to further improve its facilities, provide more tourism products, and become a friendly, safe and healthy destination.
It will also increase collaboration with key localities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Lam Dong, Dak Lak and Ninh Thuan provinces to fully utilise its maritime and ecological tourism advantages.