The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism held a press conference in Hanoi on April 17 to announce tourism events in 2008 and the results of the tourism sector’s operations in the first quarter of this year.

Head of the Travel Department, Vu The Binh said in the first three months of the year, the tourism sector welcomed 1,285,954 international visitors, 15.7 percent more than in the same period last year.

The number of Thai visitors increased by 34.5 percent, followed by Malaysia and Singapore while the number of visitors from Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the West decreased. The number of US visitors rose slightly although the Government agreed on exemption of entry visas for Vietnamese people holding foreign passports.

There were eight new foreign-invested tourism projects in the first quarter with total registered capital of US$1,621 million, mostly concentrated in the central coastal region.

Ho Chi Minh City took the lead in attracting tourists with revenues reaching VND6,700 billion in the reviewed period, up 38 percent against the same period last year, followed by Hanoi, Quang Nam, Lam Dong, Hai Phong and Can Tho.

Caravan tours have become a trademark of Vietnam’s tourism sector. Over the three years, more than 2,000 caravans have arrived in Vietnam. The Prime Minister recenty urged the tourism sector to draft regulations on the trial run of caravan tours. Once the draft is approved by the NA Standing Committee, this kind of tourism service will gain momentum.

In 2008, the tourism sector will focus on organising major important events such as the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2009 (ATF 2009), Miss Tourism Contest 2008, the first of its kind in Vietnam, and participating in international tourism fairs in Japan, Thailand, France, the US, China, Cambodia and the UK.

The sector will also implement strategic tasks to develop tourism until 2020 with a vision for 2030, a project to promote tourism activities on islands and along the coastline until 2020, adjust overall planning to develop tourism in the Red River Delta and other major areas, and make full preparations for Buddha’s birthday.