Most of the visitors came from China, the Republic of Korea, the US and Taiwan, said a VNAT representative at a workshop in Hanoi on November 27.

This suggests a recovery in the tourism sector in the two remaining months of the year, as foreign arrivals fell dramatically in October due to the global economic recession, he said.

He attributed the positive sign to the sector’s promotion campaigns overseas, including Impressive Vietnam. The recovery of the national economy has also lured foreigners back to Vietnam.

Vietnam welcomed just 3.4 million foreign visitors in the past 11 months, down by 12 percent compared to last November. If the upward trend continues in December, the country hopes to receive approximately 4 million foreigners for the whole year.

At the workshop, delegates gave opinions on a strategy for national tourism development until 2020 with a view toward 2030. The strategy aims for breakthroughs in tourism development, enabling the sector to compete on a par with other countries in the region and the world.

Under the strategy, the sector will focus on diversifying markets and products, developing brand names, training human resources, upgrading infrastructure and increasing international cooperation.

It expects to serve 7-8 million foreign visitors and 32-35 million domestic holiday-makers in 2015. For 2030, the targets are 11-12 million foreign visitors and 45-48 million domestic tourists.

VietNamNet/VOV