Vietnam still welcomes Chinese tourists despite flu fear

      Vietnam's tourism authority said on Monday the country still welcomes Chinese tourists as normal despite the confirmation of the first case of A(H1N1) influenza in the neighboring country a week ago.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has yet to issue any advisory against travel from China as well as from other flu-hit countries, said Vu The Binh, head of the travel department under VNAT.
Binh told the Daily on Monday that his department had yet to issue any recommendations to local travel companies in receiving visitors from China and other countries.
"We are not recommending travel restrictions from China to Vietnam with regard to the outbreak of the flu virus," Binh said, adding the department had the same view in receiving international tourists from other countries.
"We're just warning such companies to comply with regulations of the Ministry of Health in receiving foreign tourists," he said.
However, the official said that his department had repeatedly requested travel companies across the country to stay vigilant in receiving tourists from epidemic-hit countries.
China is the leading market for Vietnam's inbound sector. However, the number of visitors from the country to Vietnam is falling strongly due to the economic downturn.
"The total number of international tourists has fallen by 17.2% in the first four months, but arrivals from Chine have even crashed by 30%," Binh said.
However, he pinned high hopes that foreign arrivals would increase soon owing to the ongoing promotion of the country's tourism.
"I hope the number of guests will bounce back as many hotels and tourism service providers have mark down their rates for tourists to help travelers to save cost," Binh said.
Vietnam's tourism has received more than 650,000 Chinese tourists last year, increasing by over 13% compared to 2007. Most of the tourists traveled to the country via border gates in the north using laissez-passers.