Vietnam Tourism Recovery Highest in Southeast Asia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vietnam's tourist arrivals after the Covid-19 pandemic recovered to 98 percent in 2024. This is the highest figure in Southeast Asia. Followed by Malaysia in second place with a recovery rate of 94 percent, Thailand 88 percent, Singapore 86 percent, Indonesia 86 percent, and the Philippines 72 percent. The ranking is based on data from the Secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) quoted by the Vietnam National Tourism Administration.

Vietnam officially reopened its borders to international tourists on March 15, 2022. Since then, the tourism sector has recovered significantly, increasing from 3.7 million visitors in 2022 to 12.6 million in 2023, with a projection of reaching 17.6 million in 2024, almost matching the 18 million visitors recorded during the peak year of 2019.

In 2024, the Blue Dragon Country received 15.6 million visits from foreign tourists. Increased 39.5 percent from the previous year, the highest after 2019 which was visited by 18 million foreign tourists. Among Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam is in fourth place, after Singapore in third place with 16.5 million visitors. However, it managed to surpass Indonesia with 14 million visitors and the Philippines which received 6 million visitors. Meanwhile, the first and second positions were occupied by Thailand and Malaysia with 35 million and 24.5 million visitors respectively.

According to the Vietnamese government, the increase in the number of visitors is related to government regulations on visas. Vietnam currently applies a visa-free policy for tourists from 25 countries. Starting in August 2023, the local government will begin issuing three-month tourist visas for citizens of all countries and extending the duration of stay to 45 days for citizens of 13 countries exempted from visa requirements.

In addition, last year, the government launched a new web portal that simplifies the e-visa application process, making it easier and more convenient for foreign tourists.

Target of 23 million foreign tourists by 2025

With the increasing number of tourists, Vietnam has the ambition to attract 23 million international tourists by 2025. The tourism sector is expected to contribute 6 to 8 percent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Last year, in addition to increasing income, the sector also created jobs and improved the quality of life of the community.

To achieve the targeted figure, the tourism industry will focus on potential and high-quality country resources. These countries include China, South Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, North America, India, and the Middle East.

Then, another way to get more visitors is to choose international markets based on quality, including visa-free entry, markets with convenient flight connections, and improving other facilities. The local government plans that next year the country will participate in the world's leading travel exhibition.

In addition to its famous historical tourism, Vietnam offers many natural, cultural, and culinary destinations. Tourists can explore historical traces in the ancient city of Hoi An, the War Remnants Museum, the Cu Chi Tunnels, or the Imperial City of Hue. Meanwhile, for nature lovers, visit Ha Long Bay, Trang An, Fansipan to Lady Buddha.

NIA NUR FADILLAH | VN EXPRESS | NHAN DHAN | VIETNAM NEWS

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