HCM City (VNA) - Chinese havefor the first time become the largest group of international visitors to HCMCity, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.

Their number soared to 600,000 last year, a year-on-yearincrease of 50 percent.

In 2016, they were the third largest group, La Quoc Khanh, DeputyDirector of the department, said.

Chinese visitor profiles have changed, requiring hisdepartment to do market and product research to help travel firms tap thisgrowing market segment, he said.

The city would then develop appropriate tourism products toserve Chinese tourists, he said.

Nguyen Quoc Ky, General Director of giant tour operatorVietravel, said tourism authorities should rearrange their priority markets forrunning promotion and marketing programmes in 2018-20.

China should be a priority market, followed by NortheastAsian and Southeast Asian countries, he said.

“The city will see a massive influx of Chinese tourists inthe coming time.”

Ty Quy Thanh, Director of Lien Bang Travelink, said hiscompany saw a 30 percent increase in the number of Chinese tourists last year.

The number of bookings from China in the first quarter ofthis year rose by 15 percent year-on-year, he said.

Tours of three to four days to HCM City and the Cuu Long(Mekong) Delta or beach cities such as Vung Tau and Phan Thiet are the mostpopular, he said.

Phan Dinh Hue, Director of Viet Circle Travel and ServiceCompany, said most of the Chinese tourists visiting HCM City come by air. Theyare from major cities such as Shanghai and Beijing and have deep pockets.

To encourage spending by these visitors, the city shoulddevelop more shopping places and onsite services to serve them, he said.

Travel firms said a shortage of four- and five-star hotelsand Chinese-speaking tour guides are major obstacles during the tourism highseason and holidays.-VNA