Vietnam ranks third in tourism rebound in region

Vietnam ranks third in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of tourism rebound, according to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The August Interim Update of the UNWTO Tourism Barometer said that the first six months of 2010 saw international tourist arrivals by 7 percent.

Growth was positive in all world regions, led by a robust performance of emerging economies at 8 percent compared to 6 percent in advanced economies. Asia and the Pacific (14 percent) and the Middle East (20 percent), where results were already positive in the second half of 2009, continue to lead growth in the first half of 2010 with the majority of destinations in both regions posting double digit growth rates.

“Asia in particular is experiencing a very dynamic rebound, with strong results from Sri Lanka (49 percent), Japan (36 percent), Vietnam (35 percent), Myanmar (35 percent), Hong Kong (China) (23 percent), Macao (China) (23 percent), Singapore (23 percent), Fiji (22 percent) and the Maldives (21 percent). Thailand (14 percent) posted encouraging results in spite of the political unrest early this year,” the organisation said.

However, the organisation said despite a clear recovery in international tourism, it is necessary to remain cautious.

According to the organisation, international tourist arrivals totalled 421 million during the first six months of 2010, up 7 percent on 2009.

UNWTO maintains its initial forecast of international tourist.

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UNWTO: Vietnam a top growth tourist destination

International tourists visit a perfume store at a commercial center in HCMC - Photo: Dao Loan

HCMC - The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has put Vietnam in the list of the top Asian countries with strong tourism performance in the first half of this year.

UNWTO said in a statement about global tourism that international tourist arrivals are estimated to have grown by 7% in the first six months. Asia Pacific with the growth of 14% and the Middle East with 20% led growth in the global tourism industry in the period.

The organization said Vietnam and Myanmar had the same growth of 35%, ranking the two countries as particular countries which had strong results in the period, behind Sri Lanka and Japan.

“Asia in particular is experiencing a very dynamic rebound, with strong results from Sri Lanka (49%), Japan (36%), Vietnam (35%), Myanmar (35%), Hong Kong (China) (23%), Macao (China) (23%) and Singapore (23%),” says the report.

UNWTO said Asia had once again shown a strong capacity for recovery. International tourism has been a driving force in the region, currently the second most visited region in the world with 181 million international tourist arrivals, or 21% of the world total.

However, the organization still maintained its forecast that the global tourism sees continued growth but risks remain. “Although we are witnessing a clear recovery in international tourism, we must remain cautious,” UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said in the statement.

Nguyen Van Tuan, head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, earlier told the Daily that local travel remained a key pillar for the country’s tourism, with up to 17 million Vietnamese people traveling in the first half, representing over two-thirds of the figure for all of 2009.

Growth in international visitor arrivals was 32.6% in the first half, with more than 2.51 million foreign visitors coming to the country. The number reached nearly 3.35 million in the first eight months, up 35.2% year-on-year.

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Vietnam ranks third in tourism rebound in region

Vietnam ranks third in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of tourism
rebound, according to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

The
August Interim Update of the UNWTO Tourism Barometer said that the
first six months of 2010 saw international tourist arrivals by 7
percent.

Growth was positive in all world regions, led by a
robust performance of emerging economies at 8 percent compared to 6
percent in advanced economies. Asia and the Pacific (14 percent) and the
Middle East (20 percent), where results were already positive in the
second half of 2009, continue to lead growth in the first half of 2010
with the majority of destinations in both regions posting double digit
growth rates.

“Asia in particular is experiencing a
very dynamic rebound, with strong results from Sri Lanka (49 percent),
Japan (36 percent), Vietnam (35 percent), Myanmar (35 percent), Hong
Kong (China) (23 percent), Macao (China) (23 percent), Singapore (23
percent), Fiji (22 percent) and the Maldives (21 percent). Thailand
(14 percent) posted encouraging results in spite of the political unrest
early this year,” the organisation said.

However, the organisation said despite a clear recovery in international tourism, it is necessary to remain cautious.

According
to the organisation, international tourist arrivals totalled 421
million during the first six months of 2010, up 7 percent on 2009.

UNWTO maintains its initial forecast of international tourist arrivals growing by 3-4 percent for 2010./.

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