Hanoi (VNA) – Under the impact of the 2019 novelcoronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, foreign tourist arrivals in Vietnam may fallby 50 – 60 percent during the epidemic period, according to the GeneralStatistics Office (GSO).

The GSO forecast the number of foreign tourists toVietnam at 644,000 in the first quarter, declining by about 800,000 compared tothe non-nCoV scenario.

A survey of foreign visitors shows that eachChinese tourist spends about 743.6 USD in Vietnam on average, while per capitaexpenditure by travellers from other countries is about 1,141.5 USD.

If the epidemic lasts through Q1, the countrycould suffer losses of about 2.3 billion USD in revenue from foreign tourists,the GSO said, noting that during the epidemic period, there are no Chinesevisitors to Vietnam while the number of holidaymakers from other countries isalso falling sharply since Vietnam is adjacent to China, where the 2019-nCoV israging.

The statistics office of the southern centralprovince of Khanh Hoa said Nha Trang city is predicted to be hardest affectedas Chinese visitors account for the largest proportion of foreign arrivalsthere, over 70 percent in 2019.

Meanwhile, many meetings and conferences havealso been delayed to contain the disease spread, leading to a considerabledecline in MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions) tourists inbig cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The GSO noted air transportation will be heavilyinfluenced by the nCoV outbreak, adding that the Civil Aviation Authority ofVietnam has halted licensing regular flights between Vietnam and China untilthe Government issues new directions.

Eleven airlines of China are operating 32 routesfrom 14 destinations in China to five destinations in Vietnam, namely Hanoi,HCM City, Da Nang city, Cam Ranh city (Khanh Hoa province) and Phu Quoc island(Kien Giang province), with 240 flights per week. Meanwhile, three Vietnamesecarriers, Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific Airlines and Vietjet Air, areoperating 72 regular and charter routes linking with 48 destinations in Chinawith 401 flights per week.

Due to the suspension of all Vietnam-Chinaflights since February 1 afternoon, more than 80 flights between the twocountries are cancelled every day on average.

Road and railway transportation has also beenaffected due to weaker travel demand, resulting in contracted transportationsupport services, the GSO said.

The office suggested that to boost tourism,businesses and localities should maintain promotion activities in the marketswith good growth in visitor numbers in 2019, as well as new and potentialmarkets like Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia, the UK and Australia.Relevant agencies should also step up the establishment of Vietnam’s tourismpromotion offices in key markets to attract more foreign travellers./.