Vietnam targets 4.5 million foreign arrivals in 2010

The tourism sector sets a target of welcoming around 4.5 million foreign visitors in 2010, representing an increase of 20 percent over this year, said Nguyen Van Tuan, Head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).
To reach the target, Tuan said the VNAT will work closely with relevant agencies to implement tourism promotion programmes, including a VND25 billion (US$1.35 million) national action programme to develop tourism products and human resources and a national tourism promotion programme with an estimated investment of VND25 billion.
Vietnam expects to receive about 400,000 foreign visitors in December, raising the total number of foreign arrivals to the country this year to 3.9 million, down over 10 percent compared to the previous year.
However, the number of domestic tourists is estimated to increase by 19 percent to 25 million.
The country’s total tourism revenue in 2009 is expected to reach VND68-70 trillion (about US$3.7 billion), 10 percent higher than last year’s figure.
Foreign arrivals to Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s largest economic hub, also fell by 10 percent to over 2.5 million, equivalent to 84 percent of the city’s yearly plan.
The city strives to attract more than 3.5 million foreign visitors and 10 million domestic tourists in 2010.