Hanoi (VNA) – Despite the strong recoveryrecorded recently, Hanoi’s tourism industry has still faced many challenges anddifficulties, especially in luring foreign tourists, prompting insiders to seekmore effective measures to further boost the  tourism growth of the capitalcity.

Since tourism activities were fully resumed on March 3, 2022, the tourismmarket, especially the domestic market of Vietnam in general and Hanoi inparticular, has seen a growing trend. As of August, the number of domestic travelerwas estimated at 79.8 million, 19.8 million higher than the target set for thewhole year.

Hanoi alone welcomed 10.62 million tourists in the firstseven months of this year, 3.6 times higher than the figure recorded in the same timelast year, exceeding the city’s set target for the period.

Total revenue from tourism activities in the period islikely to reach 31.9 trillion VND (1.36 billion USD), up 3.9 timesyear-on-year, the department reported.

In July alone, the capital city served 1.94 milliontourists, earning 6.15 trillion VND (263.3 million USD).

Hanoi’s tourism sector set a target of welcoming 9-10 million visitorsin 2022, including 1.2-2 million foreigners. Its total revenue is expected toreach 27.84-35.84 trillion VND.

According to experts, the greatest difficulties that thetourism industry of Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular is facing is amodest number of foreign tourists. To date, the country has welcomed about 1.8million foreign visitors, much lower than the figure in the same period of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, andfulfilling only one-third of the target.

For Hanoi, as of September, the city has received about 766foreign arrivals, well below the goal.

On October 24, Ha Noi Moi Newspaper and the city's Tourism Association are jointly organising a seminar to talk measures to further promote tourism recoveryand development of the capital city after COVID-19 pandemic.

The seminar is expected to clarify challenges that the cityis countering during and after the recovery period, and seek solutions toattract more visitors, especially foreigners, in the future, thus turning tourism a spearhead economic sector of Hanoi.

In order to make the tourism industry thrive, earlier this year,the city has built a plan to welcome foreign tourists in the new normal, whichaims to ensure safety and contribute to the city’s tourism recovery anddevelopment.

The city will bolster tourism promotion activities in keymarkets with high level of safety in COVID-19 prevention and control, namelyEuropean and ASEAN countries, India, the Republic of Korea, Japan, China,Australia, the US and Canada.

To raise efficiency, the capital city’s tourism sector willboost cooperation with other sectors and localities for safe and substantialtourism development, making sure that tourism activities are resumed in aconcerted and consistent manner.

In particular, it will join hands with diplomatic corps andVietnamese trade offices abroad and international organisations to arrangeinvestment, trade and tourism promotion activities. The sector at the same time will rollout activities connecting with tourism localities in the northern and centralregions, Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces to build programmes servingforeign holidaymakers.

Communications will be promoted to popularise touristdestinations and new tourism products of Hanoi via traditional methods, TVchannels at home and abroad, websites and social media sites like Youtube andFacebook, under the themes ‘Hanoi – Travel to Love’ and a safe and attractivetourist destination.

The city will collaborate with embassies and representativeoffices abroad and the Airports Corporation of Vietnam and carriers to holdtourism promotion events at major markets, as well as welcome delegations of foreignreporters and travel companies in Hanoi.

Hanoi is working to improve the quality of tourism productsat heritage and relic sites and craft villages and compile introduction in fiveforeign languages of English, French, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

Due attention will also be given to nightlife activities and new pedestrian zones will be opened around Son Tay ancient citadel; at anurban area in Hoang Mai district; and around Hai Ba Trung district’s Tran NhanTong street and surrounding areas, including the bank of Thien Quang Lake. Nightlifetourism products will be created in line with traditional cultural values./.