Figures from the General Statistics Office show that 1.3 million foreign visitors arrived in Vietnam by air in January, accounting for 85.1 per cent of all international visitors and an increase of 60.1 per cent year-on-year, while those who came by road stood at 176,900, accounting for 11.7 per cent and 2.7-fold higher than in January 2022.

This also marks the highest monthly number of foreign visitors since fully reopening all tourism activities in March 2022 and the seventh consecutive month international tourist arrivals have exceeded 1 million.

Visitors from Asia still represented the majority of international visitors, with 1.1 million arriving in Vietnam in the opening month of the year. The second-largest source of foreign tourists was Europe, with over 200,000 visitors, followed by North America, Australia, and Africa.

By nationality, South Koreans continued to be the largest group of foreign visitors, with 418,000 arriving in January. They were followed by China with 242,000, Taiwan (China) 84,000, and the US 76,000.

Revenue from hospitality and dining services was estimated at 2.41 billion USD in January, an increase of 10.2 per cent year-on-year.

Revenue growth in January compared to January last year in Da Nang was 29.9 per cent, Ho Chi Minh City 14.7 per cent, Hanoi 10.8 per cent, Thua Thien-Hue 9.3 per cent, and Bac Ninh 8.1 per cent.

Vietnam’s tourism industry has set a target of welcoming 17-18 million international visitors in 2024 while catering to around 110 million domestic tourists, earning total revenue from tourism of around $34.4 billion.

The increase in foreign visitors demonstrates the effectiveness of measures taken by the government to encourage tourism activities, one of which was the extension of stays from 15 to 45 days for 13 countries unilaterally exempted from visas, under Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP from the Government, which came into effect from August 15, 2023.

Speaking at a recent forum organized by VnEconomy / Vietnam Economic Times (VET), Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), said the tourism industry will expand beyond its traditional sources of international visitors by targeting new markets of potential in 2024. “We will strengthen air links with India in 2024 to bolster visitor numbers,” he told VnEconomy at the forum.

He also reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to exploring new avenues by becoming a global hub for major international events. The country’s success in hosting concerts by renowned artists such as Black Pink, Maroon 5, and Charlie Puth in 2023 demonstrated its potential to attract international visitors through such endeavors.

“Vietnam will become an irresistible destination, drawing visitors from every corner of the globe,” he concluded.