Hanoi (VNA) – It is estimated that Vietnam’s tourism sector served about
3.2 million tourists during the New Year holidays from December 30, 2023 to
January 1, 2024, up 6.6% year on year, but the overall number of visitors fell
short of expectations.
According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism
(VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the average room
occupancy rate in lodging facilitates reached nearly 50%, with some tourism
hubs nationwide reporting even higher rates, at around 70%.
The limited duration of the break played a significant role in
dissuading tourists from opting for leisure travel, as many preferred reuniting
with their families rather than embarking on tourist excursions.
This year’s travel trend highlights a budget tightening, reduced
purchasing power, and a reduction in expenditures on public transport such
as airplanes and trains while transport service costs hiked during peak
days, said the VNAT, adding that a portion of domestic tourists contributed
to a decline in in-country lodgings, as some chose to explore international
destinations instead.
Foreign visitors were mostly from key markets, including the
Republic of Korea (RoK), China, Japan, the US, Australia, Europe, Thailand and
India.
Vietnamese tourists opting for outbound tours explored diverse
destinations, including China, Taiwan (China), the RoK, Japan, and more. Outbound
tours within Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, held a
competitive edge in terms of pricing and attracted considerable attention from
Vietnamese travellers.
Airlines
like Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, and Vietravel Airlines offered over
5,300 flights, providing a total of 1.06 million seats. In the railway sector,
an additional 30 train services were operated, connecting Hanoi with
destinations like Lao Cai, Hai Phong, Vinh and Dong Hoi.
Looking ahead, the tourism industry aims to welcome 17-18
million foreign visitors and cater to 110 million domestic travellers this year, earning a revenue of approximately 840 trillion VND (35 billion USD)./.