The number of foreign visitors to Ho Chi Minh City in January, 2011 is estimated to reach 310,000, 10% higher than the same period in 2010, announced HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Tourists arriving by air were estimated at 240,000 arrivals, 12% more than 2010, including 150,000 Vietnamese overseas while those reaching by other routes reached 70,000, 6% more than the previous year.
During the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival, it is expected that there will be 40,000 Vietnamese tourists departing from HCMC to visit foreign countries, showing a year-on-year increase of 20%, according to the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Singapore, Malaysia, China, Thailand and Cambodia are favourite destinations for Vietnamese tourists. Also, for the occasion, visitors taking part in domestic tourism are estimated to rise by 20% compared to 2010.
In the first month of 2011, tourism turnover is planned to reach VND3,560 billion, 15% more than the same period in 2010. Of this figure, turnover sourced from hotel and restaurant service will make VND2,492 billion, 13% more than 2010, and from travel VND1,068 billion, 17% more than 2010.