Vietnam hopes to welcome 17-18 million tourist arrivals this year

Tourists at the Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature Complex)(Photo: VNA)

 Vietnam's tourism industry has set a target to welcome 17-18 million foreign visitors in 2024, approaching the pre-pandemic record in 2019 when COVID-19 had yet to disrupt global travel.

In 2023, the figure hit 12.6 million, surpassing the initial target by 57% and achieving the adjusted goal of 12-13 million. The number of domestic travelers, meanwhile, stood at 108 million, up 6% compared to the set target. Tourism activities generated about 678 trillion VND (27.85 billion USD) in revenue, 4.3% higher than the yearly plan.

Despite substantial recovery in 2023, the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) said the domestic tourism recovery will still face challenges in the year ahead. This is particularly true in the context of the unpredictable global developments stemming from economic uncertainties, regional conflicts, and climate change.

Vietnam's socio-economic conditions remain stable, and the economy continues to grow, and inflation has been kept in check. But the persistent threat of disease, and natural disasters are likely to create uncertainty affecting production, business activities, and the daily lives of citizens.

According to forecasts from the UN World Tourism Organisation and the World Travel and Tourism Council, international travel activities may fully recover by the end of 2024, reaching the levels achieved in 2019. However, the recovery is expected to be uneven across different regions.

Visitors flock to a market space in Phu Quoc island, the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang. (Photo: nhandan.vn)

The ever-changing demands of international tourists require higher standards concerning product quality, diversity and unique experiences. The trends of integrating information technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation are envisioned to drive the emergence of new forms of tourism.

Based on these analyses and projections, Vietnam aims to serve 17-18 million foreign and 110 million domestic visitors this year, with an expected total revenue from tourism nearing 840 trillion VND./.

VNA