Visitor arrivals to Vietnam increased slightly in the first half of the year.
According to the latest data from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), the country welcomed 3.54 million international visitors in January-June 2013 – 2.6% more than the same period last year. The result was driven by emerging markets, with arrivals from Russia, China and the ASEAN region showing the strongest growth.
Arrivals from Russia surged 60.4% year-on-year to 153,900, while Thailand (+24.3% to 129,360), Indonesia (+21.5% to 35,180) and Malaysia (+12.2% to 163,340) all saw double-digit growth.
China, Vietnam’s source market, contributed 825,660 visitors in the six-month period, up 21.0% year-on-year.
But several other western source markets declined. The US (-5.0% to 232,630), France (-10.5% to 109,110) and Canada (-16.2% to 55,970) all contributed fewer visitors to Vietnam in the first half.
Vietnam is targeting 7.2m international arrivals in 2013, 5.1% more than the 6.85m it achieved last year.
