Vietnam's Tourism Sector Rebounds Strongly
Vietnam's tourism industry has demonstrated a robust recovery in the first seven months of 2024. The sector welcomed nearly 10 million international visitors, marking a substantial 51% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. This surge was notably driven by a significant influx of European tourists.
July alone witnessed a continued upward trend with 1.15 million international arrivals, representing a 10.9% year-on-year growth. The cumulative visitor count for the first seven months surpassed the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, underscoring a complete rebound from the challenges posed by COVID-19.
Europe emerged as a key market, contributing to a 47.3% increase in visitor arrivals. The Asia Pacific region also experienced significant growth, propelled by a 57.1% surge in arrivals, primarily from China. Australia and the Americas also recorded notable increases of 27.3% and 9.7%, respectively.
While July saw a slight decline in arrivals from South Korea and China compared to the previous month, these two countries remained the top sources of international tourists. Over the seven-month period, China witnessed a remarkable 190% increase in visitor numbers, followed by South Korea at 37.2%.
Other key source markets included Taiwan, the United States, Japan, and Australia. Notably, European arrivals experienced a robust 9.4% month-on-month growth in July, highlighting the region's increasing interest in Vietnam as a destination.
Russia, Italy, France, the UK, Spain, and Germany were among the European countries that recorded substantial growth rates. This upward trend can be attributed to favorable visa policies and concerted promotional efforts undertaken by tourism authorities and industry stakeholders.
The positive performance of the tourism sector translated into significant economic benefits. Tourism revenue for the first seven months reached an estimated 35.2 trillion VND, representing a 31.8% increase year-on-year. Major cities and provinces across the country reported substantial revenue growth, driven by the influx of international visitors.
The strong performance of Vietnam's tourism sector is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the industry and government in revitalizing the sector post-pandemic. These results position Vietnam as a compelling and competitive destination in the global tourism market.