Vietnam welcomed over 8.8 million international visitors in the first half of 2024, an increase of nearly 60% against the same period last year, the General Statistics Office (GSO) reported on June 29.

International visitors increased significantly in the first six months of 2024 in Vietnam

The figure was up 4.1% from the same period in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

Of the total, the total number of holidaymakers arriving in Vietnam by air accounted for 83.8%, while those coming by road made up 14.3% and by sea, 1.9%.

International visitors increased significantly in the first six months of 2024 in Vietnam (Picture: Dao Loan)

In June alone, Vietnam welcomed more than 1.2 million international tourists, a year-on-year rise of 28.1%.

Revenue from accommodation and restaurant services was estimated to increase by 15.2% and travel tourism jumped 37.1% from last year.

The increase was mainly attributed to the country’s favourable visa policy and enhanced tourism promotion programmes from provinces and centrally-run cities nationwide.

The Republic of Korea remained Vietnam’s largest tourist market, with 2.28 million arrivals, followed by China and Taiwan (China) with 1.89 million and 630,000 visitors, respectively.

Other major markets such as Japan, the US, Australia, India, and Malaysia also showed significant growth.

ITE HCMC 2024 – one of the key events driving Vietnam’s tourism industry

ITE HCMC is Vietnam’s leading and prestigious annual international tourism trade event, aimed at promoting tourism exchanges, fostering tourism promotion, and expanding business opportunities for both domestic and international companies.

According to the Organizing Committee, ITE HCMC 2024 will be expanded in terms of organizational scale, exhibition area, and participating partners. This year’s expo is expected to attract more than 500 exhibitors and brands from both domestic and international markets.

As of now, the Organizing Committee has recorded nearly 300 registrations from 38 provinces and cities across the country. Notably, the expo has also garnered significant interest from international tourism promotion agencies such as South Korea, Russia, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan (China), Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. Among these, there is a remarkable increase in participation from countries like Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia.

ITE 2024 – one of the key events driving Vietnam’s tourism industry (Picture: VACS)

One of the strategic goals of ITE HCMC 2024 is to enhance cooperation, promote trade connections, and create breakthroughs for the tourism industry. ITE HCMC 2024 continues to be the only expo in Vietnam that offers the International Buyer Program. With over 220 international buyers from 40 countries and territories, the expo is expected to generate more than 10,000 business appointments, providing opportunities for direct exchanges and interactions between international and Vietnamese tourism businesses in a B2B format.

The event is expected to symbolize the resilience, strength, and creativity of Vietnam’s tourism industry in the context of the current global tourism landscape. It is also seen as a platform that connects tourism associations and domestic tourism businesses, thereby creating synergistic strength, enhancing competitiveness, and increasing the attractiveness of the national tourism industry on the international stage.

The strong growth in the number of international visitors in the first six months of 2024 is a clear testament to the strong appeal of Vietnam’s tourism industry today. It is evident that tourism promotion events, along with the relentless efforts of agencies, businesses, and individuals in the industry, have been achieving certain successes. With the right strategy and close cooperation between parties, it is believed that Vietnam’s tourism industry will continue to make significant marks on the world tourism map.

Register to visit the exhibition at: https://itehcmc-travel.events-regis.com/